Garda Representative Association conference hears threats of industrial action
Gardaí have warned they will consider industrial action if they are forced to work in prisons in the event of a strike by prison officers.
Garda Representative Association general secretary Mr P.J. Stone said yesterday that gardaí feared being labelled "scabs".
Speaking at the GRA annual conference in Galway yesterday, he also refused to rule out the possibility of strike action unless gardaí are supplied with state of the art, ram-proof patrol cars.
"We are not looking for BMWs but existing Toyota Yarises and Ford Fiestas cannot be considered suitable vehicles," he said.
The cars currently used by the force were not fitted with accessories such as side-impact bars, which were now required under new health and safety legislation.
"Cars that are not fitted with these kind of protectors are not completely within legislation."
Mr Stone said that while the force had ordered a number of purpose-built Volvo patrol cars from Sweden, the replacement of the current fleet needed to take place if industrial action was to be avoided.
"I think what we need is a clear signal from Garda management that they are taking the whole issue seriously."
On the question of gardaí being called to fill in for prison officers in a strike, Mr Stone said that while "members of the force had been utilised in these situations" in the past, most rank-and-file gardaí would feel uncomfortable passing a picket line.
"Whether we take industrial action on this is a very, very serious issue for us. Obviously we haven't got experience in [the prisons] area, that's why the prison officers do their job and we do ours." It would be "manifestly unfair" to expect gardaí to "step into the breech", he added.
The Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, told reporters it was too soon to say that there would be industrial action by prison officers. However, the issue would be addressed if and when it arose.
Prison officers are considering industrial action over proposed changes to the working of overtime. The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, has already warned prison officers that he is unwilling to continuing paying the massive €60 million annual overtime bill.
Mr Byrne also played down the threat of industrial action by gardaí over patrol cars. "Conference is for discussing issues; if members have concerns this is where they are raised," he said.