GARDAÍ ACROSS THE country have this week been voting for industrial action in informal meetings across the country, TheJournal.ie can reveal.
Earlier this week, it emerged that Cork City Gardaí voted unanimously to pass a motion calling for industrial action over proposed pay cuts, choosing a ‘blue flu’ - calling in sick en masse – as the preferred action.
Following the vote, several other divisions of Gardaí have held meetings to discuss the proposed pay cuts and vote on potential industrial action.
In Limerick, Gardaí also voted in favour of action as well as a motion of no confidence in Justice Minister Alan Shatter and one in Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan.
Garda Representative Association (GRA) President John Parker confirmed today that several other meetings have taken place this week and said that “what happened at the Cork meeting has consistently happened” at the others.
“Representatives have been passing on concerns and issues that arose with members highlighting what they would be willing to do,” he said. “But we want to keep clear heads on this, these meetings have just been a litmus test for things on the ground.”
Parker said morale in the force is low and that the department is “clearly disconnected” from gardaí.
The association will attend an open meeting of the 24/7 Frontline Alliance on 18 February and Parker said if there is any movement by the government to cut payment then “obviously that is when our members’ voices will be heard”.
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