Minister fans flames of firefighter dispute
SIPTU members employed as retained firefighters have reacted with outrage to ministerial promises to bring an end to the ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions with many fire stations temporarily shutting down this week.
On Wednesday, SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division Organiser, Karan O'Loughlin, said: “As our members take to the picket line and protest for a second day, they are making clear their universally angry reaction to the statement on the dispute that (Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage), Mr O’Brien made to the Dáil.”
She added: “This is nowhere near good enough and has made resolution of this dispute more difficult.”
Speaking in the Dáil on Tuesday, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien, TD, said nothing could be done concerning the recruitment and retention crisis until new public sector talks commence.
Minister O’Brien said: “Rates of pay for public sector employees are set by collective agreements. They are put in place to ensure public service pay will be managed sustainably. In practice, this means that despite what I or union representatives might like to see in an ideal scenario, it is not within our gift to make an exception or operate outside of the terms of national public service pay policy.”
Tuesday’s afternoon’s debate followed the commencement of co-ordinated industrial action that morning which saw Ireland’s 2,000 retained firefighters go on strike. The action will see half of the country’s fire stations close over the coming days.
At Tuesday’s Dáil debate, TDs from Cork and around the country pulled no punches in their response to Minister O'Brien’s handling of the dispute.
Now in its second week, the dispute centres around a long-standing recruitment and retention crisis which has put significant strain on the lives of retained firefighters. A core factor in the dispute is that there has been no adjustment in firefighters’ pay structures for 20 years. Currently, retained firefighters are paid a basic €8,500 retainer per annum plus a fee per call-out, and they must work and live within 2.5kms of their station.
Responding to the minister’s remarks, Independent Cork TD Michael Collins said it was a wonder the minister did not offer firefighters “extra buttons on their jackets”.
“That is what the minister is offering. It is absolute peanuts for what they have done. They deserve better,” said Deputy Collins.
In December 2022, a report was published outlining 13 recommendations aimed at improving the retained firefighter service delivery model and addressing the issues with recruitment and retention. However, the recommendations are yet to be implemented.
Some of the key issues raised in the report were structured time off for firefighters and the amount being paid under the retained firefighter's fixed payment.
Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central, Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, said: “The recommendations are there. They are not from a trade union representative organisation or from civil society. They were commissioned by the minister. They need to be implemented. We need to stem the tide of people leaving the retained fire services.”
If no progress is made by 20 June, SIPTU, the trade union representing Ireland’s Retained Fire Service, said members will escalate their industrial action to a “full, all-out strike”.
Ms O'Loughlin, continued: “Our members have warned for some time that this strike action will result in very serious disruption to services. However, they have been left with no option but to commence it as the very future of the service is in doubt if the current crisis in recruitment and retention of firefighters is not resolved.”
Council debate
Tuesday’s Dáil debate followed 2 separate motions brought before Cork County Council on Monday calling for the support of the council in the Retained Fire Service’s continued struggle for improvements in pay and work/life balance.
Fianna Fáil Cllr Ian Doyle said it is “incredible” that firefighter’s pay and work conditions have not been brought to match their heroic and crucial contribution to society.
He said: “The job involves 365 days a year with 2 weeks off, thankfully, if your station is properly manned – most of the stations are not. Charleville is now on 1 at the moment.
“Mallow and Kanturk will not operate Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday of this week and they will be covered by Charleville. And this week, Charleville will not operate Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. These are being operated by retained firefighters who do not want to be in this position.”
Cork County Council officials confirmed that emergency cover is in place and that any emergency with life-threatening implications will be responded to as quickly as possible.