ANA reports that the Public Service Association (PSA) on Tuesday said it was "alarmed by the irresponsible support" for police officers to embark on an "illegal strike".  

It warned that it was "reckless" of any trade union to back such action that was at odds with the Labour Relations Act.  The police service is defined as an essential service under the Act.  Murmurs of a possible strike had swirled around since last week and on Monday hundreds of police officers failed to report for duty.  Chief among the complaints of disgruntled officers was the exclusion of senior officers from promotions.  PSA general manager Ivan Fredericks said:  "It is reckless of any trade union to put thousands of police officers’ careers on the line, by encouraging them to embark on an illegal strike, on conditions of service contained in the agreements, that the very same union had negotiated in the Safety and Security Sectoral Bargaining Council (SSSBC), which is the relevant bargaining structure.”  The PSA is currently not a party to the SSSBC, although it apparently represents a substantial number of uniformed personnel.  Fredericks went on to point out that “the ideal avenue on the quarrel would still be to declare a dispute about the non-implementation of the signed agreements or approach the courts in these circumstances."  

• Read the full original of the ANA report on the above at Independent News

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