AGSI backs Croke Park agreement

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) has voted in favour of the Croke Park public sector pay and reform agreement by a majority of more than five to one.

The union, which has about 2,500 members, voted to ratify the proposed deal by a margin of 86 per cent to 14 per cent.

Under the agreement, negotiated in March, the Government has given a commitment that there will be no further cuts in public sector pay until 2014 at least.

The unions have agreed to implement extensive reforms in work practices and conditions of employment throughout the entire public service. The deal does not contain specific guarantees on reversing pay cuts that were put in place in the budget last December.

However, there will be a review of public sector pay in spring of next year and in each subsequent year. These will take account of “sustainable” savings generated as a result of the implementation of the reform programme, and determine whether there is any scope for the reimbursement of pay cuts.

“The agreement is very far from being perfect, a fact which we pointed out to our members prior to the ballot,” said AGSI general secretary Joe Dirwan.

“They have voted to accept the agreement as being their share of the sacrifice needed to put the economy of the country back on track. They now expect all other sectors to bear a fair proportion of that sacrifice as well, especially the high earners and those who brought us to the brink of bankruptcy in the first place.”

Mr Dirwan said the Government would have to demonstrate a fair and equitable approach to all and to honour its side of the accord if the agreement was to survive.

The Irish Congress of Trade Union will meet later this month to make a final decision on whether to accept or reject the deal based on a majority vote of constituent unions. Each union will be given a “weight” to take account of the size of the membership.

The outcome of ballots by Siptu, which has more than 70,000 public service members, and Impact, which has about 65,000 members, will most likely decide the future of the deal.