Irish police officers, known as Gardaí, are starting a series of five protests because their boss, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, has made changes to their work schedules.
The group representing lower-ranking police officers, called the Garda Representatives Association (GRA), asked its members how they felt about taking action at work last month.
The group has been arguing with Mr Harris about changes to the work schedule and other aspects of the job.
Police officers are gathering to show their disagreement with the return of the Westmanstown schedule before discussions begin between all parties.
The police voted to stop working extra hours on five Tuesdays in October and go on strike on 10 November if their current disagreement is not resolved.
Mr Harris said he is ready to start discussing the problems with the schedule, and the three other police associations are also willing to join the discussions.
Extra work that employees choose to do, such as extra hours or shifts, is done in order to make sure there are enough staff members at certain places, like security checkpoints and patrols, police stations, and to make the police more noticeable during a time when there are less police officers available.
It is also used to protect the Dáil (lower house of Irish Parliament) and police special events. It is also used in important investigations and during court appearances.
Mr Harris announced that the Westmanstown roster would go back to the schedules they had before the pandemic.
This would mean that the police officers go back to working for six days in a row, and then have four days off.
This has not been liked by regular police officers, many of whom want to continue with the Covid-era schedules. These schedules have longer shifts but they also get four days off after working for four days.
Last year, the GRA said that having a six-day work week would mean some members would have to work 47 more days each year. This would also increase the amount of money they spend on commuting and childcare.
After many discussions with the GRA, Mr. Harris announced in September that he would continue with the six-day schedule, even though some people disagreed.
Speaking to a broadcaster in Ireland, GRA president Brendan O’Connor said that the police may take longer to respond and might not be as visible in some places.
Our members are just saying that the service is getting worse because we are not able to find and keep enough people.
The only reason it is working well is because we are flexible and committed to doing more than what is expected of us.
We would like to have a conversation, find a solution to this issue, and we never intended to find ourselves in this situation.
Mr Harris said that he and the police management were ready to have in-depth discussions.
He is having separate meetings with each of the garda associations this week.
Barristers in Ireland who specialize in criminal law will go on strike on Tuesday because they are unhappy with the government reducing their pay. This is the first time they are taking such action.
Lawyers will gather outside courthouses all over the country, including the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin, to express their disagreement between 10:00 and 13:00.
The barristers are going to be joined by criminal defence solicitors, who are stopping working because the cuts to their fees have not been brought back.
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