Fire fighters to resume strike as Labour Court recommendation is rejected

Donegal fire fighters are set to return to the picket line after strike action was suspended to allow for Labour Court discussions. 

SIPTU Fire fighters across the country have voted by an overwhelming majority of 82% to 18% to reject the Labour Court recommendation which was proposed as ‘an interim solution’ to their dispute last week.

SIPTU Divisional Organiser, Karan O'Loughlin said: “Our members clearly believe that the recommendation does not go far enough in creating the first step to rebuild the retained fire service. 

“Stations all over the country are short staffed with dangerously low levels of crewing on call out. The increases in the modest retainer given to these essential workers may look like something on a percentage basis but, in reality, they are a high percentage of a small amount and will do nothing to attract the numbers of fire fighters that are required to address the issues. 

“The proposals to address the retention problem are also inadequate as people are retiring on a mandatory basis or just leaving because the job is traumatic and stressful and not worth it because of the high levels of commitment and availability that are required."

She believes that these problems are exacerbated by the fact that most of the income earned is precarious and not guaranteed.

Ms O'Loughlin added: “Given that the pending strike was suspended to allow for the Labour Court intervention, this suspension will now be lifted and the strike will commence at every fire station across the country from Wednesday, July 26.”

Fire fighters began industrial action last month on a rolling basis, stopping short of all out strike action to allow for Labour Court talks to take place. 

There are 15 fire stations in Donegal with around 165 personnel attached; a number that is described as 'inadequate,' with the service said to be 'on its knees'.

SIPTU, the union representing the firefighters, is asking for improved pay and conditions to address 'a recruitment and retention crisis'.

“The fire service is broken,” Letterkenny-based firefighter Steven Kelly, the SIPTU rep from the Letterkenny station, told Donegal Live when strike action began in June.

“It is on its knees. To us, this is the only way to do it. Stations are undermanned all over the country and are on the verge of closing.

“Strike action is a last resort. We want to be in the stations and ready to respond to the communities. We are here because the Government and the Council have refused to engage.”

Retained firefighters are asking for a better work-life balance and for a better pay structure.

The starting rate for a retained firefighter is €8,500 which could rise to €10,500 in five years.

Some stations get very few calls, but they still have to be on-call 24/7 and ready to respond in the middle of the night. There is no structured time off and no structured pay.

The demands of the fire fighters’ are simple - a rank and file service that is fit for purpose.