LAST UPDATE | 28 May

RANK AND FILE gardaí have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a new roster agreement ending a lengthy dispute, The Journal has learned.

The ballot recorded that 2,924 members, or 79.31%, voted yes while 763 or 20.69% voted against the measure – the amount of valid ballots was 3,687.  

The Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has been in a dispute between the Garda Representative Association (GRA) and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) over new proposed working hours.

Both garda representative groups, AGSI as well as the Garda Representative Association (GRA) had voted against accepting the original arrangements for gardaí.

Back in September rank and file members of the GRA voted in a ballot in which 99% of voters expressed no confidence in the Commissioner two weeks ago.

There has been a serious breakdown in the relationship between the GRA and Garda Headquarters with the representative body ruling out inviting Harris to their annual delegate conference in April.

The Journal previously reported in March that senior leaders on the Central Executive Committee and decided to accept a new roster proposal.

It is understood that “core” policing function units, such as regular response gardaí, will remain on a four on four off 12-hour per shift rotation. They will have a reduced annual leave of 29.5 days.

The non-core units, such as Roads Policing Units, detectives and Community Policing will work a 10 hour shift duration with a complicated set of six on four off tours of duty. They will have 35 days annual leave.

It is understood that the new roster proposal closely reflects the GRA’s original proposal they suggested in November 2022.

Ronan Slevin, General Secretary of the GRA said: “I am delighted that this Ballot has been passed and I wish to thank our Negotiating team as well as everyone who took the time to vote. This proposal largely mirrors the Roster proposal put forward by the GRA and it had been endorsed by both our Central Executive Committee and the Delegates at our Annual Conference last month.

“This proposal followed almost four years of intense negotiations, and we believe that this agreement will now provide more predictability for members’ work/life balance while ensuring that the working conditions and protections of all members are enhanced and secured into the future.”

A statement from An Garda Síochána said: “An Garda Síochána welcomes the agreement of the associations with the roster following extensive negotiations. An Garda Síochána thanks all the parties involved in the negotiations including the independent chair.”