THE Government has been urged to seize the opportunity to negotiate Retained Firefighters conditions as strike action has been suspended to allow for a Labour Court hearing concerning the dispute.
A Labour Court hearing to discuss the dispute will take place tomorrow, Monday at 10am in Lansdowne House, Dublin.
It comes as exploratory discussions were attended by the SIPTU retained firefighter negotiating committee and representatives of the Local Government Management Association (LGMA) earlier this week and the Labour Court decided there is a basis for a full hearing concerning the ongoing dispute.
Last week, retained firefighters from Donegal’s 15 fire stations took to the picket line over a dispute around pay, conditions and a decent work/life balance.
Since the strike began, there has been a huge outpouring of public support for the Retained Firefighters’ who say stations in Donegal are understaffed and struggling to recruit new members due to the conditions involved in the role.
SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division Organiser, Karan O Loughlin, said members appreciate the intervention of the Court in this matter and have suspended their industrial action at its request.
However, she admitted resolution to this dispute will be ‘complex and difficult.’
“Our members will not settle for anything other than an agreement which safeguards the functioning of this vital emergency service into the future,” said Ms O Loughlin.
Donegal Sinn Féin TDs Pádraig MacLochlainn and Pearse Doherty have urged the government to seize the opportunity to negotiate with the retained firefighters, and prevent further strike action.
Doherty Doherty said, “Talks will take place within the Labour Court between SIPTU and the LGMA but the reality is that the outcome of the dispute will be decided by Minister O’Brien and his cabinet colleagues.
“I urge government TDs to seek an answer from Minister O’Brien on the question as to whether he will honour the recommendations of the government’s own report into the crisis in the Retained Fire Service.
Independent TD Thomas Pringle also urged government support for the firefighters. He said: “The fire service plays a very important role in our communities and deserves the support of everyone in the country and the Government.
“The retained fire crew have the needs of the community at heart and are willing to sacrifice a lot to be able to carry out the role.”
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