THE ASSOCIATION representing 8,000 soldiers, sailors and aircrew of the Permanent Defence Forces (PDFORRA) has voted to reject the terms of the Croke Park Agreement in a ballot.
The result announced yesterday was 55.8 per cent against and 44.2 per cent in favour.
PDFORRA deputy general secretary Simon Devereux said: “The vote for rejection of the Croke Park Agreement by members of PDFORRA will see us immediately seek to re-open negotiations on elements of the deal which are of immense concern to our members. “The major source of this unease is the lack of clarity in the Department of Defence Modernisation Agenda, and without clarification and adjustment it will not be possible to secure the support of PDFORRAs membership”.
He said the association believes the list of commitments being sought under the modernisation agenda, in return for vague guarantees on members’ pay, were excessive. This was particularly so, he added, given the widespread reform process that has taken place in the organisation over the past decade or so.