Proposals to give Garda representative organisations limited union recognition by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions may be rejected by gardaí as being too restricted.
At present Garda and Defence Forces representative organisations have no union status and as such, both groups are prohibited from strike action. They are also excluded from partnership negotiations.
However, under proposals to be considered at a special meeting of ICTU next month, delegates will consider a rule change to ICTU, which will create a category of associate membership.
This will enable groups such as the Garda Representative Association (GRA), Permanent Defence Forces Association and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) to join ICTU.
Yesterday the AGSI said it had not been informed of the proposed rule change, and it had not been mooted by either itself or the GRA.
"There have been no negotiations," said AGSI spokesman Mr Austin Kenny. "We haven't been in contact with ICTU, but we will be drawing the attention of our executive to the motion, when they meet next month."
According to Mr Kenny, the exclusion of the AGSI and other Garda representative bodies from the pay talks is a source of serious discontent for members. "We receive briefings from Government but it is regarded as a bit of an insult that we are excluded from pay talks."
It is understood that senior members of both the GRA and AGSI, who have seen the ICTU motion, believe the proposals do not go far enough. "It's effectively conferring observer status, nothing more," said one source.
The bodies have been campaigning for full union recognition and the right to strike since the 1970s.