Longford TD calls for resolution to firefighters dispute

The Retained Fire Service provides fire and first responder emergency services across the country. The workforce of 2,000 part-time workers has commenced strike action in a bid to improve the conditions in which they work.

Ballymahon fireman Michael Farrell is on the national negotiating committee discussing with the government the difficulties being experienced by firefighters.

The representative union accuses the government of putting lives at risk by allowing a firefighter recruitment and retention crisis to persist, and say they have been forced to escalate strike action.

Over the weekend part-time fire stations went 'dark' from Saturday at 8am, providing no internal communications other than life-saving information.

The union representing the workers says if negotiations with management are not resumed, retained firefighters will begin closing fire stations from next Saturday, August 19, closing one additional station each week in each county.

Stations around the country are already closed 50% of the time because of the refusal by management to agree adequate cover arrangements with firefighters.

In a letter to Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien from local TD, Deputy Joe Flaherty (pictured) the Fianna Fáil elected representative called for a resolution.

“At the weekend, two of the five stations in Longford went 'black' and this will increase to three this weekend as the dispute escalates. This is a real and genuine risk to public service that neither the firefighters, local authorities or any elected representative wishes to see unfold,” he said in his missive to the Minister.

Deputy Flaherty pointed to Labour Court recommendations as offering “a basis for a settlement”.

The Fianna Fáil TD believes minor adjustments to the recommendations could satisfy a majority of firefighters.

“The removal of gratuity payment for new entrants remains a deterrent and is no incentive for recent recruits to stay in the service. All firefighters, existing and new should have the option to work towards a gratuity payment,” he suggested.

Deputy Flaherty suggests that issues such as proximity of fire stations, standardised training rules, night-time rates, the banding of stations and enhanced pay for busier stations could be resolved through the national pay negotiations.

“Those few key points and concessions might be enough to enable firefighters to return to work and provide their communities and neighbours with the assurances they need,” he said in the letter.