Police unions to stop justice ministry computer issuing fines

Police taking industrial action in support of their play claim plan to make it impossible for the justice ministry to send out some traffic fines from Wednesday next week.

The police manage the computer system which is used to compile and send out fines on behalf of the ministry. The unions now plan to change the software filter to stop it processing some of them and claim this will cost the government €500,000 a day in lost income.

The campaign will affect fines for people who drive up to 20 kph too fast or who face a fine of €200 or less, the police unions said. A month ago, the police said they would be more lax in their approach to traffic fines, as part of their pay claim.

Last month, a number of opening matches in the premier football league were cancelled because of police strikes.

The police have been offered a 5% pay increase and a one-off bonus payment of €500. The unions say the deal is made up of a 2.28% rise over two years, plus 2.2% from changes to their pension plan which may affect eventual pension payouts.

Teachers, tax officials and customs staff are also angry about the civil service pay deal which the government signed with several smaller unions this summer.

The FNV trade union, which was not a part of negotiations, is taking legal action in an effort to have the agreement scrapped.