Garda representatives are expected to decide later this week whether to move towards a settlement with the Government on the basis of a new pay offer, or to escalate their industrial action.
A pay deal which would increase Garda pay by up to 13 per cent is believed to be on offer following "informal" meetings between Government officials and two Garda Representative Association negotiators.
The GRA central executive is to hear a report from the two negotiators who have been engaged in informal talks with the officials for the past three weeks.
It is understood the Government has offered a combined "catch-up" and productivity-related pay deal which could increase Garda pay across the board by 12 or 13 per cent. This would mean an additional £40 million or so on the Garda salary bill. The Department of Justice has also put forward proposals for rostering which would change shift patterns worked by most of the 8,000 officers of garda rank. This has been a particularly contentious issue as many gardai feel they will lose overtime payments if the garda representatives agree to rostering changes.
The Department of Justice proposals are understood to mean no changes to the rostering arrangements in country stations and an increase in "flexi-time" working in city stations to allow more gardai to be available for working at peak times. This would mean more day working and fewer overnight shifts in the cities.
The proposals will be put to the GRA's Central Executive Committee on Thursday by the acting general secretary, Mr P.J. Stone, and the president, Mr John Healy, who have been conducting what have been termed "informal" negotiations.
If the executive rejects the proposals, the GRA is likely to embark on an escalation of its industrial action over the next month culminating in another one-day strike on July 11th - the first day of the Tour de France.
The Central Executive Committee informed the 8,000 GRA members by circular two weeks ago that it was involved in informal discussions with the Department of Justice to "address satisfactorily" the pay review issue.
The GRA told its members it would continue to "pressure" the Government to meet their demands, claiming some gardai had been singled out for victimisation and intimidated for their support of the one-day "blue flu" strike last month.
The Government has stated it will not comply with the GRA demands for a substantial non-productivity related pay rise as this would create a precedent for other public sector pay demands and increase inflationary pressure on the economy.
The GRA also said it would not allow members to be removed from any position because of their "compliance with association policy" by participating in the one-day stoppage.
The latest edition of the GRA magazine, the Garda Review, contains an editorial saying it was not the association's intention to subvert the authority of the Garda Commissioner but it would continue to take action if needed.
It said: "It is not the intention of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) to undermine the authority of the Commissioner. However, it is clear from our membership that we must do whatever is required, through legitimate means, to ensure that we receive a just and fair pay settlement. In this context, we will continue to have dialogue with all parties in attempting to find a way forward to address the pay issue meaningfully."
Meanwhile, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors National Executive has also informed its members in a recent circular that it had decided to return to the talks because of the improved offer of a 7 per cent "catch-up" payment combined with further pay increases tied into productivity arrangements. AGSI said it was "satisfied that a fair and reasonable settlement can be achieved if we continue to battle on within the present process".
The escalation of industrial action proposed by the GRA in a circular to its members includes the "national day of protest" on the first day of the Tour of France when gardai would again call in sick for 24 hours; refusal to complete forms under the Courts Act; members not to attend courts; and members to attend each remand hearing with their prisoners.
Also, the Central Executive Committee is considering a date between now and July 1st for a "lightning" one-day strike giving management only two days' notice.
In addition, gardai who have not completed driving courses and are driving with chief superintendents' authorisation should inform management they no longer wish to be considered for this duty until trained properly.