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| INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS |

threatened industrial action. This was the Government’s re- membership” and “industrial action’ as inherent features of
sponse to the recognised industrial relations inadequacies service conditions.
of the current provisions for Representative Associations.
An Interdepartmental Working Group is currently reviewing In this context, how should the future of Defence Forces
the industrial relations status of the Garda Representative industrial relations be shaped?
Associations. Of note is that a Report by Mr John Horgan • Will Government now separate the IR structures and
(Haddington Road Agreement Review of An Garda Síochá- process of the Gardaí and Defence Forces?
na, 12 December 2016) recommended that The Gardai • Will Government provide a separate industrial rela-
should become members of Trade Unions. tions structure and process for the Garda Associa-
In May 2017, the Minister for Social Protection and now tions facilitating formal access to the WRC and La-
Taoiseach and Minister for Defence, Mr Leo Varadkar, an- bour Court while continuing to deny such access to
nounced at the launch of his election manifesto that par- Defence Force Associations?
ticular Public Service sectors should not have the “right to • Will Government sanction and legislate for both the
strike”. Interestingly, two Oireachtas bills with the objective Garda and Defence Force Associations to become
of establishing Trade Union Status for Defence Forces As- recognised “Trade Unions” consistent with the rul-
sociations have commenced the legislative process. ings of the Council of European Committee of Social
Rights that provides the capacity for these associa-
What is the future for Defence Forces Rep- tions to legitimately influence a vote on the accept-
resentation? ance or otherwise of National Pay Agreements equiv-
Recent changes to the National Industrial Relations alent to the current position of unions affiliated to
structures, developments in the form of the Workplace ICTU?
• Will the Defence Force association members be
disadvantaged by continuation of the current 2nd
division status of access to state industrial relations
process & structures in which Defence Force Asso-
ciation members are denied voting influence on the
acceptance or otherwise of National Pay Agreements
in contrast to unions affiliated to ICTU?

In reflection of these questions on the future of Defence
Force industrialrRelations, consideration of the models
applied by other nations, including the United Kingdom
Government for their Armed Forces should be considered.
This particular model provides for a similar single statutory
authority with terms of reference embracing not only remu-
neration but additionally such terms & conditions of service
that factor recruitment and retention. Of significance is the
key principle separating armed forces pay from the domain
of the unionised sectors thereby protecting the independ-
ence and interests of Government.
In the United Kingdom, the Armed Forces Pay Review
Body (AFPRB) reviews and makes recommendations to
the UK Government on service issues.

Relations Commission, European Council judgements on United Kingdom - Armed Forces Pay Re-
the status of Representative Associations combined with a view Body- AFPRB
range of National Pay Talks “side deals” secured by Public Human resource issues and conditions of service to in-
Service Unions affiliated to ICTU, unquestionably challeng- clude remuneration of their military forces are managed by
es the adequacy of Defence Force Representation Status, an Independent Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body (AFPRB),
present and future. first appointed in May 1971.The Armed Forces’ Pay Review
With such political and industrial relations changes since Body was established to provide independent advice to the
the introduction of Defence Forces Representation in Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Defence on
1991, the time has now come to consider Industrial Re- the remuneration and charges for members of the Naval,
lations options that recognise the restrictive service con- Military and Air Forces of the Crown. The Review Body cov-
ditions unique to military service, particularly if there re- ers all ranks up to and including Brigadier and the equivalent
mains an intent by Government to prohibit “trade union ranks in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

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