MEMBERS OF THE Garda Representative Association (GRA) are set to implement a “second menu of options” after a meeting of its central executive committee on Monday.
The new set of options could see a complete ban on overtime with officers in charge being forced to directly order gardaí to perform their duties and issue all orders in writing for them to come in on their days off.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, GRA President John Parker said the the next menu of options for industrial action will see “things increase incrementally”.
As part of a number of actions being taken by GRA members to “turn off the goodwill tap”, gardaí have refused to work voluntary overtime for public events, including tonight’s Dublin v Mayo match in Croke Park.
However Parker said this will have no impact on the public or those attending the game as “garda managers can divert gardaí for the policing of an event”.
This is not likely to result in a reduced number of gardaí out on the beat as those who are on duty can be diverted to the match and other officers can be brought in on overtime to cover their policing duties.
The actions being taken by gardaí over the last few weeks have also seen them refuse to use their personal mobile phones and computer equipment, with all measures aimed at highlighting the extra tasks they take on without being asked.
However the next menu of options will be more extreme and while they are not likely to create disruption for the public, they will result in more work for those higher up the ranks.
“We’re doing this because of the corner we’re being backed into,” Parker said. “The government has changed things before when they realised they were wrong and we’re asking them to do it again.”
Parker also warned public sector workers across the board to look at the full Labour Relations Commission document they are agreeing to and not just the information provided by their unions.
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