The Garda Strike

mynamejeff wrote: »

how about we take it from the Christmas bonus for the dole monkeys who have never worked recession or boom time ?

it would cost more to figure out who they are then it would bring in. if it could be done though then i would agree it's an option but those in genuine need shouldn't be punished for the actions of a few.

mynamejeff wrote: »

or the politicians pay or stop free legal aid for people with 20 or more convictions.

that would go against a fair justice system. people are entitled to legal aid to insure fairness and that one receives a fair chance at defending themselves.

mynamejeff wrote: »

or make the politicians pay or their own transport to and from the dail

i agree with this.

mynamejeff wrote: »

get mick wallace to pay his tax bills

mick wallace does pay his taxes and has paid what he owed.

mynamejeff wrote: »

dock court fines from wages or dole payments would save millions

on what do you base this on. it could potentially cost just as much as you would be hoping to save. all though i believe this is to be done.

mynamejeff wrote: »

set up drunk tanks with a 100 euro charge instead of putting them in ambos

the charges wouldn't be paid and it would cost to much to get the money. do it without the charge and you might be on to something

MeatTwoVeg wrote: »

What I wouldn't give for a strong Government to face down these militant unions.

yeah, so that workers rights can be slowly eradicated, and the poor can be left to rot. that's the type of government you want. well, it isn't going to happen. the lessons of vermin like thatcher have been learned, and they're will be plenty of us willing to do what is necessary to insure such a government never gets to power in ireland.

MeatTwoVeg wrote: »

As per usual, the populist muppets will buy off the strikers using yours and my money.

our boys and girls deserve a pay rise for the job they do.

MeatTwoVeg wrote: »

It's ironically criminal that these incredibly well remunerated public servants would attempt to hold the country to ransom.

the country isn't being and won't be held to ransom by a strike. these public servants aren't remunerated enough. it's criminal that they don't get a better deal.

Edups wrote: »

Ted111 wrote: »

Oh you don't think? So you're not sure. Seems there's a lot you don't know about. CIT companies will not be delivering cash to ATMs on Friday. Which is one of the two days that they are filled. They will likely run low.

I can draw pictures for you if necessary.

The Army guard the money vans for banks. No picture required.

The army have to work under the guidance from AGS in such instances.. where does that leave them legally if there are no AGS on Friday. Also you are wrong on the escorts too

One thing I haven't seen yet here, which is normally in most threads to do with the Gardai, is if they don't like it, leave. Well, I did.

I left recently, after 10 years. Why? For my mental health. The job gave me serious anxiety, which even manifested itself in physical form on my head. Massive cyst like globules of heroine looking liquid. Doctors hadn't a clue what they were. They gave me medication which worked until it was gone. They cut them out. The genuinely had no idea what they were. 2 weeks away from the place, and my head is perfect again.

When I joined during accelerated recruitment, the times were still good. The wages were appealing, but for 15 months I was on less than the dole. No bother I said. Shur I'll be on savage money soon enough. And I did. For a while. But what I wasn't told were all the deductions. And then the improper lending practices of the credit unions, leading to massive debt in no time. I once looked for 7k to get a decent enough car (a 02 in 2008). They just gave me 10. I signed for it, sure, but having had no access to decent money prior to joining, and being told "shur it's only a fiver a week, we'll give you a ring when on the full wages to sort it", plus the fact I was only 24 and never had more than 2 Bob to rub together, of course I said yes (was terrible at business and economics in school). Fast forward to full wages, and suddenly 150 a week was being taken away. Yes, I signed it, but why was I able to get it in the first place on 150 a week?

Anyway, throw on the higher tax bracket, and the standard wages were crap after all deductions. Overtime was abundant, so I done enough to enjoy myself. Still had a comfortable amount to work with from the standard wage and allowances, but no lavish lifestyle.

Bought a house in 09, affordable, with money left over from basic + allowances, and overtime to pay for a bit of fun. I worked it out that if I didn't want to do overtime, I wasn't stuck.

Fast forward another bit and suddenly the cuts came. As I said, I'm no economist, it bores the ****e out of me. So no, I didn't see it coming, nor did a high percentage of most people (except those of you who like to rub it in our faces that you have an interest in something the rest of us consider boring). Anyway, suddenly I'm earning barely enough to cover bills. Government took the bones of €120 a week off me. Overtime all but gone. Allowances cut. I was very quickly in serious financial bother.

Then, recruitment ban. Older members retiring quick snap so they wouldn't get caught by the incoming cuts to retirement pay, no one to replace them. Crime went up, paperwork doubled, new work practices introduced which extended the time needed to investigate. Less time to investigate. Management who get promoted on their ability to reprimand the lower ranks. Management turning a deaf ear to the needs of the feet on the ground. Halfway decent patrol cars replaced with buckets of ****e. Stab vests bought from the cheapest vendor who was getting rid of gen 1 vests which are on longer being made. Vests which are heavy, uncomfortable, unfit for purpose.

Courts constantly letting the Gardai and public down, but comforting and looking after criminals. A revolving door in prisons. The abuse during the water protests. The lack of any understanding from any sector of government or management. The complete ignorance of our human rights to join a union or be involved in pay talks. The threats that if we didn't do what we were told, we'd be fined. The immediate hatred because someone had a bad experience with a prick of a guard, even though I never even heard of that guard.

I wanted to make a difference. Anyone who talked to me on a night out when I was on the beat often commented that I was one of the sounder guards they ever met. I changed people's opinions on the guards. I never once done someone for something they didn't deserve. I rarely handed out tickets because we have a great thing called discretion. I'd rather educate than chastise. And it worked. The vast majority of those I educated were never to be seen on the Garda system again.

I have a background in customer care. I put my heart and soul into improving first line contact, improving the quality of work and feedback to turn a city dead set against the local Gardai into one who actually respects the Gardai. And it was working.

I left for my mental health, because no matter what I did, I got **** for thanks. Maybe it was my station, but I saved lives from a burning building and got chastised for going into it. The same happened in another station and they got medals. I was rarely thanked for my work, but constantly reprimanded for the smallest of things. It is the most thankless job I have ever worked, and I have worked some **** jobs.

I'm now 33, living back home with my parents, with crippling debt, financial institutions chasing me for money and threatening legal action. The house is up for sale, and I only hope that the sale will cover the majority of my bills. I've started a new job, one which pays 19k a year with no allowances or bonuses. I'm already happier. I'm already appreciated more during training than I have been in 10 years in AGS.

I have respect for 99% of Gardai, about 80% of sergeants, little for inspectors, even less for supers and chiefs, and zero respect for that thing that calls herself commissioner. She should be ashamed to wear the uniform with the way she's carrying on. Her job is to represent the Gardai, not pander to the politicians. I've said it for years, the commissioner should be voted on by the Gardai.

Anyway, I fully back them. Not all are great, but the vast majority are. They work the most thankless job in Ireland in my opinion, and all you keyboard warriors have no idea what the job is like. No one has unless they've worked it. It's so unique, that they're not even allowed talk about it, for fear of imprisonment. That's why the GRA and AGSI are quiet, they are serving members too, and are liable to the same laws and procedures. They have to be extremely careful in what they say.

The whistle blowers, while they are making it aware that there is corruption, they're no angels themselves. They're using personal grievances to accelerate their own agendas, and hiding behind whistle blowing.

Remember folks, the media is owned, and the owner has an agenda. His agenda is rarely in line with AGS. Don't believe everything you read in the rags of today. I'd believe WWN over most of them.

And finally, the deals that were and still are being proposed are the equivalent of shaking the Gardais hand and then spitting on his back. The GRA balloted it's members, they got the reply. They don't need to ballot on any other deal offered, as every deal so far has terms that have already been unilaterally negated by the membership. There will be no more free hours. If anything but full restoration and pay parity, along with no more free hours is accepted, the GRA will have let down its membership again, and it will be the next thing to fall.

(And before anyone asks, no, that's wasn't me in the AMA, I wouldn't have been as nice).

tayto lover wrote: »

The posters giving out about Unions are obviously very young.
Had they the experience of working in places where there were no Unions in times gone by then they would have an entirely different attitude.

Sad thing is I think it is often the opposite.
Unions have allowed themselves to be made completely irrelevant in a lot of the private sector, and not always because terms and conditions are so much better that they are not needed.

Many young people have no experience of a unionised workplace. Even if they believe "in theory" it could be beneficial for them e.g. if they are in a sector with poor pay and conditions; the attitude is often why should some others (in public sector) have unions who sometimes strike when I don't have one (or am not allowed to join a union)?

There is a similar attitude to pensions I think - why is that the public sector joe soap should have a decent pension when these are becoming preserve of top management and professionals in the private sector?

These people will always get their lump sums, equity, ARFs etc when they go
- general worker-bee increasingly gets sfa and will have to rely on the state pension. They can do their bit to maintain the low-low business taxes in future & use the govt. approved Euthanasia Booth in 2056!