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RETAINED FIREFIGHTERS WILL return to normal work duties at midday after “progress was made” at talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) last night, a Siptu organiser has said.
The 2,000-strong part-time fire service, which provides fire and first responder emergency services, had been engaged in industrial action for over two months due to staffing numbers and a dispute over pay.
Many firefighters are unable to take annual leave due to staffing shortages and they have also seen their incomes reduced due to reductions in call outs over the last number of years, the union stated.
🚨 Important #FireStrikes update
— SIPTU (@SIPTU) August 17, 2023
Talks concluded overnight at the Workplace Relations Commission.
While we await the WRC document we have agreed to suspend industrial action from midday.
A full statement and an update to members will issue later today. pic.twitter.com/qlFSpFO1MV
Siptu divisional organiser Karan O’Loughlin said in a video this morning that there had been “progress” on issues of pay at the WRC last night, with talks continuing into the early morning.
“It didn’t tick all the boxes or deliver everything we wanted but we have made progress on the guaranteed pay side and managed to knit more value into the system,” she said.
O’Loughlin didn’t specify the details of the talks but said that a statement would be made public later today.
She added that the WRC would issue a “complex” document outlining the changes to pay which Siptu would have in the coming days.
“To enable them to issue the document we have to suspend the industrial action from midday tomorrow,” she said.
“So that means from midday tomorrow, people will start to work as normal in terms of fire calls and you should then start to make arrangements to recommence drills, training and station duties from next Monday.”
“We go then for the next phase of the campaign which is during and after the Public Service Pay talks, where we expect that the public service pay increases will be applied, and the retainer will be again dealt with for a second time,” O’Loughlin said.
“So those assurances are part of what will come out in the document and you’ll have something from me tomorrow on paper,” she said, addressing retained firefighters.
Earlier this week, Minister for Housing and Local Government Darragh O’Brien issued a letter to Siptu in which he said that industrial action which had been planned for this weekend would be “highly unsafe”.
In the letter, which was seen by The Journal, the minister said that there had been a 50% reduction in fire cover across the country during last weekend and that “the situation is highly unsafe for firefighters and is posing a severe threat to public safety”.
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We’re going back to normal not knowing a single thing that has been agreed on, industrial/strike action should remain in place until all members have been notified of these proposals, kicking the can down the road again and we could still end up going back on the picket line when these proposals have been released, a complete joke of a move by our union.
@Barry Coleman: It is crucial for all those on strike to remain united. Their lives are not their own until this issue is properly resolved.
@Barry Coleman: unbelievable but not surprised by siptu..once again making a mess of things. It will be back to the picket again after the vote I’d imagine. Yesterday they stated on their own Facebook page that they would suspend further industrial action (going to 75% closure) if there was a constructive outcome and now they have lifted everything without even consulting anyone.
@anthony marren: you will find it’s your elected reps that made the decision… Not siptu officials. That’s how it works.
Can our politicians please go on an extended strike?
Unions are just common bullies. Never pander to a bully
@Jon John: T. W. A. T
@Jon John: I doubt you even had a job
@Eddienowy Byrne: I am a wealth creator, my minions do the work and I take the profits :)
@Jon John: I suppose money cant buy happiness when you spend all day on the internet being an abrasive C$%&
@Jon John: Yeah, I suppose “Blood Sucking Parasite” is actually a Job.
@William Slevin: That depends, on the Parties that are in it. Pretty much any Party that would support his ilk, in owning Slaves would get his support.
@Jon John: only job you have is being a troll.
@Alan B: Every comment Jon makes screams how unintelligent he is. If he had half a clue, he would be embarrassed. But he is a dolt, so he probably doesn’t even care that we are all laughing at him
Not a bad deal by the sound of it. Never buy a house on it, but when could you buy a house on a part time job
have your say