Garda Ballot on Industrial Action

by jayo Mon Dec 07, 2009 22:45

what about workers rights, they should have the right to strike like any other trade union, can't believe that the author is sidingf with a government that is trying to erode the rights of workers and cut pay and conditions, think this is more about the authors dislike of gardai and not the real issue,

by Baz Mon Dec 07, 2009 23:19

Jayo I think you need to go back and read the article again. Where in it is the author siding with the government and many of us have reasons to distrust the cops. Have you ever been on a demo? Hopefully they will allow us to voice our anger on Wed outside Leinster House

by Michael Gallagher Tue Dec 08, 2009 00:25 libertypics at yahoo dot ie

This action (if it happens) by the Garda, while welcome, will more than likely become a blip.

I remember during one of the garda reps speechs at the last action, the blue flu, even James Larkin got a mention, but the grin on his face looked more like sarcasm than anything else.

I haven't heard them mention Larkin (or Connolly for that matter) since.

Photo essays etc on workers rights etc @ http://www.myspace.com/libertypix

Pic © Michael Gallagher 2007

by Worker in uniform Tue Dec 08, 2009 11:01

There's an interesting precedent for this garda militancy in 1961, which resulted in the sacking of 11 guards. This was the 'Macushla mutiny', named for the Dublin ballroom where a critical meeting of disgruntled young guards took place.
As they arrived for that meeting, inspectors tried to identify the participants, and 160 of those identified were subsequently disciplined. Dublin guards operated a 'work to rule' in protest, ignoring lesser breaches of the law. Ultimately, the garda grievances were addressed by the state, but before that, the sacked guards were reinstated on foot of a public outcry (and the intercession of Archbishop McQuaid)

Scene of a garda mutiny

by inspector gadget Tue Dec 08, 2009 14:55

The guards changed their uniform by industrial action too. The Dublin gardaí used to have to wear British bobby style helmets which were unpopular with the rank and file, as well as having an air of "colonial police" about them. The guards rebelled and some got their uniforms altered to have an open collar which they wore with a tie, instead of the old stand and fall collar, and wore peaked caps borrowed from rural divisions.

The Minister for Justice intervened after some gardaí were suspended from duty, and the uniform was re-designed.

Pity they couldn't be so open minded about turbans a few years ago.

by him again Wed Dec 09, 2009 11:41

Pity some of their brains and attitudes towards inncent people couldn't be changed, to mention just one change. See below

DPP sent report over Wheelock custody death http://www.indymedia.ie/article/95056

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82934?search_text=wheelock

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/85217