THE Garda Representative Association has hit out at trade unions and the Government over how they have been portrayed during recent talks on efficiencies.
“The Garda Representative Association has made substantive reforms of roster and made significant savings for the country,” said GRA President John Parker in a statement to Donegal Daily.
“We were never offered a seat in the negotiations between Government and the Trade Unions; members of An Garda Síochána were not in the same room.
“The previous Government was prepared to negotiate the Transformation Agenda of the original Croke Park Deal directly with us, providing huge savings through efficiencies and new rostering arrangements. Trade unions, however, have always insisted on excluding gardaí from negotiations on pay.”
He added: The Association of Garda Chief Superintendents and the Association of Garda Superintendents did remain in annexed briefing sessions – but were never involved in the pay cut talks, and were never offered any deal.
“The Trade Union movement now dares to suggest that the Garda Representative Association could have received a similar deal to prison officers and firefighters – and influencing the decision. Let’s put this notion to rest: the gardaí were never invited into the main talks and have been excluded, since the formation of the State, from negotiations on matters of garda pay.
“It is disingenuous of Government and Trade Unions to suggest otherwise. Gardaí have made sacrifices in their pay and working conditions, and are now singled out for unfair treatment. Can anyone be surprised that gardaí feel betrayed, angry and disillusioned?”
