Plans for two-or three-day bouts of "blue flu" are believed to be included in an action plan drawn up by leaders of the Garda Representative Association.
Twenty-six of the 27-member GRA central executive committee held a day-long meeting yesterday in Dublin during which they agreed a "radical plan of action". A spokesman said the meeting was called because of frustration over the failure of unofficial pay talks.
The association's general secretary, Mr P.J. Stone, and the president, Mr John Healy, have been involved in informal talks with two senior officials of the Department of Justice since the GRA pulled out of official talks after the April 1st offer of 5.5 per cent.
Members of the executive will consult some of the 8,500 rank and file gardai at station meetings over the weekend. The executive will vote on proposals next Wednesday.
Delegates at the GRA annual conference last month voted to consider giving only 48 hours' notice of future days of protest. During the "blue flu" day, i, or more than 80 per cent of GRA members, rang in sick. This "lightning strike" option is still under consideration. The possibility of industrial action around the Tour de France, which starts on July 11th, is "still on the agenda", a GRA source said. "There is also the prospect that they will take leave, most likely in blocks of two days." This could be in the form of mass sick leave or annual leave taken by thousands of gardai at the same time, possibly in blocks of two days.
Asked about the Tour de France on RTE Radio's News at One yesterday, Mr Stone said no decision had been taken. "We're extremely conscious that the Irish people are looking forward to this national event and we don't want to be seen to be doing something that will create difficulties for the Irish economy."
Mr Stone repeated his call for a police negotiating board on pay. "If the Government would give a statement of intent on setting up this board that would go a long way towards alleviating the problems."
Garda management is extremely frustrated at the deadlock in the pay talks. Last month the Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, warned the GRA that members who staged protests would face discipline. The Government is insisting that a productivity deal be attached to any substantial pay offer. The GRA has insisted that productivity can be discussed only after a "phase one" rise of 15 per cent.
