Page 47 - Raco 2017

GENERAL SECRETARY’S REPORT
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Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI). The Arbitration Board deals with all arbitrable claims for revision of pay and any other claims involving significant extra expenditure.
The procedures for processing a claim to arbitration require that it must first be discussed at Conciliation Council. If there is no agreement there and the claim is the subject of a “Report Recording Disagreement” it may be referred to arbitration. The Association must prepare and submit a written “Statement of Claim”, which the Official Side responds to in its “Counterstatement”. Having studied these, the Arbitration Board conducts a hearing with both sides present. Each side makes an oral presentation of its case and may be questioned by the Board. Additional written submissions may be requested by the Board. The Board subsequently issues a written report, including conclusions and recommendations. Since BDC 2013 no claims have been referred to the Arbitration Board.
3.5 ADJUDICATION
Following Adjudication hearings, Mr Daniel Murphy issues favourable reports on the following Statement of Claim submitted by RACO;
• DOD Recoupment of Allowances (Jun 17)
• Special Service Officers with Fixed Period Promotion Terms (Jun 16)
• Deployment of Air Corps Colonel to the Strategic Planning Branch (May 16) • Rate 2 Pay Comdt in DLS (May 16)
• Pay Rates Upon Commissioning - Members of the 89th Cadet Class (Feb 17)
4. SUB-COMMITTEES OF CONCILIATION COUNCIL
Sub-committees are established by the Conciliation Council to facilitate complex negotiations or negotiations in specialised areas. The membership of these sub- committees consists of representatives of both sides – in RACO’s case members of the Professional Staff and in the case of the Official Side representatives of the Military Authorities, DOD and where necessary DPER. The Military and DOD teams can vary depending on the issues under discussion. Discussions at sub-committee level are less formal and stylised than those at Conciliation Council and this should make it easier to progress matters. When agreement is reached at sub-committee level it is referred back to the Conciliation Council where it is “signed off” in a Report Recording Agreement. The Council Sub-Committees that are currently active are;
• Pay and Allowances Sub- Committee
• Promotion Sub- Committee
• Induction Sub- Committee
• Sub- Committee to Conduct Review of Agreed Report 272
4.1 PAY AND ALLOWANCES SUB-COMMITTEE
Comprising representatives of the DOD, Military Authorities and the Association, this sub-committee meets approximately once every two months. It deals primarily with matters to do with the administration of pay and allowances, such as Change of Station Allowances, Overseas Allowance and Substitution Allowance. Where individuals have difficulties with the administration of their pay or allowances the case is referred to this sub-committee for action.
There are currently 18 items on the agenda of this sub-committee including;
• Substitution Allowance. Out of the 26 RACO Claims submitted for substitution since Nov 2015, 21 have been settled to the satisfaction of RACO members. Only four claims now remain outstanding. The introduction of CCR 474 in Jun 2015 has now resulted in many members substitution allowance claims being processed through military C&A. Generally, only where issues arise does RACO then submit a query or claim on behalf of members resulting in a resolution quickly compared to pre- Jun 2015.
• Development of agreed policies for secondments, leave of absences and salary overpayment recoupment
• Review of Change of Station Allowance
• Payment of ARW Allowances to officer on SOFQ
• Accommodation Charges
• Adjustments to starting pay scales
• Recoupment of insurance loadings due to military service
• Safety and Risk Management
• IMG Reports
Biennial Delegate Conference 2017