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Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

Dozens of prison drivers 'forgot' to bring their licences to work today

The staff reported for duty – but said they couldn’t work because they had forgotten their driving licences.

THE IRISH PRISON service has accused 33 prison officers who drive with the escort service of engaging in “wildcat” industrial action.

It’s after the staff reported for duty – but said they couldn’t work because they had forgotten their driving licences.

Prisoner escorts to the Criminal Courts of Justice were delayed this morning for a time – but all prisoners scheduled to attend court later arrived.

The Prison Service has called it a serious breach of discipline that would be dealt with through appropriate disciplinary procedures.

It’s understood the drivers are in dispute over new rosters for the escort teams.

Read: Two prisoners still on the roof at Cloverhill as officers in riot gear sent in

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51 Comments
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    Mute Paul Corcoran
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    Jul 29th 2015, 5:52 PM

    They should forget to pay them for today then.

    521
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    Mute John Curry
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    Jul 29th 2015, 5:56 PM

    Good ploy. fair play to them. undervalued members of society.

    352
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    Mute You're What?
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    Jul 29th 2015, 8:07 PM

    Well said John.

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    Mute Gary Keegan
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    Jul 29th 2015, 9:47 PM

    Too true. The $h1t these guys put up with on a daily basis is unreal.

    95
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    Mute Donal Gunn
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    Jul 29th 2015, 6:11 PM

    Presumably they didn’t drive to work?

    419
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    Mute John B
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    Jul 29th 2015, 8:00 PM

    Yes, all those prison workers who admitted to traffic offences should proceed to their local garda station immediately

    106
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    Mute Ros Aodha
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    Jul 29th 2015, 5:55 PM

    unions. the worst scourge in existence.

    281
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    Mute John Michael
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    Jul 29th 2015, 8:02 PM

    If there wasn’t any bosses trying to screw their workers then there wouldn’t be any unions. You haven’t a clue what this dispute is about so keep your stupid comments to yourself.

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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Jul 29th 2015, 11:23 PM

    They should have the courage of their convictions and legally strike – this cowardly ‘forgot my licence’ is just designed to keep them being paid without doing their work

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    Mute SMcB
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    Jul 30th 2015, 12:11 AM

    Surely the solution is to take a photocopy of a drivers license and hold same on file for inspection by the Gardai if needs be?

    13
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    Mute Derry Seery
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    Jul 30th 2015, 2:57 AM

    If the prison service are calling it a “breach of discipline that will be dealt with”, I very much doubt it was a union action.

    10
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    Mute Ben Redline
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    Jul 29th 2015, 6:07 PM

    Seriously can nobody else drive the fcuking van? hardly rocket science.

    234
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    Mute Mark Boyle
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    Jul 29th 2015, 8:52 PM

    How many people would want to?

    51
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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Jul 29th 2015, 6:26 PM

    These guys give unions a bad name.
    There will be no reprimand here – no point in pretending otherwise.
    If a group of non-union workers (private sector, etc) did this, they would be on their first written warning and would be sensible to look for another job because their cards would be marked for such a concerted attack on management.

    139
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    Mute AN other
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    Jul 29th 2015, 6:30 PM

    Would you not be of the upon that of public sector management can get away with it then private sector management might chance it also?

    13
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    Mute AN other
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    Jul 29th 2015, 6:31 PM

    Of the opinion rather

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    Mute Paul Doyle
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    Jul 29th 2015, 6:32 PM

    I hate when I hear of prisoners protesting etc because all that’s achieved is the POA use it as an stick for “we want more money”

    37
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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Jul 29th 2015, 6:33 PM

    If private sector workers tried any of this crap, they would be out on their ear before you could say “P45″.

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    Mute Derek Trotter
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    Jul 29th 2015, 7:50 PM

    why does this sort of stuff always bring up private vs public ? there is positives and negatives to both sides, it’s just so boring. if you work in the private sector and are envious of public sector workers conditions get a job in the private sector ! and visa versa

    63
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    Mute Derek Trotter
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    Jul 29th 2015, 7:51 PM

    public sector sorry !!

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    Mute captain ireland
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    Jul 29th 2015, 8:20 PM

    Dave I work in the public sector , I 100% agree with u. I think that’s an embarrassing stunt and just shows what clowns our unions are , escort Corp are paid to drive , imagine a driver for DHL coming up with that excuse

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    Mute Derry Seery
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    Jul 30th 2015, 2:59 AM

    It says nothing about unions, but says the prison service is threatening disciplinary action, so…?!

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    Mute peter
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    Jul 30th 2015, 6:30 AM

    Their not being paid that’s the point

    7
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    Mute Liam Nolan
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    Jul 29th 2015, 9:28 PM

    It’s not over a new roster, it’s over management trying to force staff to work on when the courts run late but not paying them for this. would you work for nothing?

    125
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    Mute Grigori Rasputin
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    Jul 29th 2015, 11:26 PM

    I often work late, and I don’t get overtime.

    52
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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Jul 29th 2015, 11:28 PM

    Same here – 60 hours on average per week. Don’t get paid at all for the extra 20, never mind overtime

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    Mute John Curry
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    Jul 30th 2015, 12:00 AM

    well aren’t you the good little boy! be like these men and grow a pair.

    51
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    Mute Grigori Rasputin
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    Jul 30th 2015, 12:05 AM

    Well, my diligence and flexibility have certainly helped me rise up the ladder in a career I love – which is probably more than can be said for these guys and their juvenile “i forgot my PE gear” shenanigans.

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    Mute John Curry
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    Jul 30th 2015, 1:31 PM

    well Grigori you have no worries so. As the old saying goes…..if your willing to work for nothing you will never be out of a job.

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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Jul 29th 2015, 6:31 PM

    If we heard how much these guys are getting paid – including all benefits including overtime, bonuses, “compulsory” sickie days, impossible to be fired, showing up to work bonuses, etc., I have a feeling we would be astounded.

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    Mute Mark Scott
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    Jul 29th 2015, 6:36 PM

    If you got your facts straight, everyone would be astounded.

    110
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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Jul 29th 2015, 6:40 PM

    I forgot one fact.
    These prison officers go on planned sickies so that their mate can cover the sickie with overtime at a multiple rate. How about that fact, Mark?

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    Mute Vocal Outrage
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    Jul 29th 2015, 6:52 PM

    @Dave, don’t think they can get away with that anymore

    36
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    Mute Alan Hanlon
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    Jul 29th 2015, 6:53 PM

    I think that loophole on OT has been closed D. Murray

    41
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    Mute Patlyndo
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    Jul 29th 2015, 7:20 PM

    This old chestnut? Maybe tell us how they actually do this or ever did this? Please? love to hear how one officer can plan a sickie and their mate can cover it? Lol….

    38
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    Mute Derek Trotter
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    Jul 29th 2015, 7:58 PM

    I work as a prison officer not in the escort part (PSEC) but in a prison. You can look up a prison officers wages on public jobs website. so I suggest you do that before making such suggestive comments. the hours we work 8am to 8pm including all the family holidays doing the work we do then post up a comment about our wages. plus if ya did your research you’d know overtime is gone years. but hey just type lies up here it makes good reading.,

    94
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    Mute Derek Trotter
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    Jul 29th 2015, 8:01 PM

    Dave your an idiot ! we get triple pay because our mates went on a sickie ! unfortunately like any other job if people ring in sick you have to pick up the slack for them for the same money !!!

    52
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    Mute Patlyndo
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    Jul 29th 2015, 8:09 PM

    I’d be astounded if you lasted 60 seconds in the belly of a jail Dave. Tell you what, why don’t they privatise it – we’ll put your name down first in line – lol…………. Bring plenty of underwear Dave, I have a feeling you’ll need them….

    51
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    Mute captain ireland
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    Jul 29th 2015, 8:23 PM

    pull ya on that one Dave , I’m 15 year in the public sector and never once got a bonus, I pay my health insurance etc so no benefits , I’m not complaining just correcting u , maybe the guys at the top get all that , I know TDs claim 6k a year for laundry expenses including Mick Wallace who never wore a suit in he’s life

    50
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    Mute peter
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    Jul 30th 2015, 6:31 AM

    Showing up to work bonus. Get your head of your hole

    6
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    Mute kopper96
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    Jul 29th 2015, 7:01 PM

    Why do people think that decisions made by management are always right.
    They are not, let’s see some of the management do the escort duties.

    74
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    Mute Warai Aoi
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    Jul 29th 2015, 7:51 PM

    Any relation to what’s happening at Coverhill or just a bad day for the Prison Service?

    50
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    Mute Patlyndo
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    Jul 29th 2015, 7:22 PM

    Spot on kopper – all the know it alls are out – slamming workers without knowing the full story, clearly there’s an issue going on here that we don’t know about.

    Then again we’re talking about people here who slammed Dunnes for their behaviour towards their workers and guess what – during that period their sales increased!

    47
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    Mute Michael
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    Jul 29th 2015, 7:30 PM

    Have these guys not heard what happens everywhere else? Keep this up they will all lose their jobs and a contract company will take over.

    21
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    Mute Patlyndo
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    Jul 29th 2015, 8:10 PM

    Yes, let’s do what the UK did and privatise it – worked out well for them didn’t it?

    32
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    Mute Darren Mccarthy
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    Jul 29th 2015, 8:34 PM

    A disgrace if ya ask me…What would happen if gardai and paramedics started this trend? id love to know the salary this lot are on.

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    Mute Des Hurley
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    Jul 30th 2015, 12:41 AM

    Who says the spin machine doesn’t work

    15
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    Mute Warai Aoi
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    Jul 30th 2015, 12:53 AM

    If a garda or soldier blatantly refused lawful orders like this his career would be over, I don’t see why is should be any different for these mutineers.

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    Mute peter
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    Jul 30th 2015, 6:36 AM

    All the lads that took a blue flu that day then were all sacked I presume

    11
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