Sinn Féin TD for Tipperary Martin Browne has slammed the government for letting down the Retained Fire Service and its members. The criticism comes after SIPTU, who have been representing the Retained Fire Fighters confirms it will recommend that retained fire fighters reject proposals brought forward by the Labour Court.
Deputy Browne says the Government lacks the political will to grasp the opportunity to address the core issues at the heart of the recruitment and retention crisis in the Retained Fire Service. SIPTU is now to ballot members in relation to industrial action and Deputy Browne says a recommencement of strike action is inevitable.
Deputy Browne wants the two Government Ministers involved – Darragh O’Brien in Local Government and Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe to authorise a credible offer, that is genuinely designed to address the core pay issues in the Retained Fire Service.
The Labour Court issued it’s recommendation on July 10th in a bid to set a basis for longer term talks between SIPTU and the employer side – it proposed increases in the Fire Fighters retainer payment, changes to the hours that qualified for premium payment and a proposal that Fire Fighters undertake additional work in Community Based Fire Prevention (up to 80 hours per annum) that could see an increase in earnings of €1,872 per annum. The Labour Court also recommended that up to 400 additional fire fighters be recruited to provide adequate cover for personnel to have a satisfactory work/life balance.
Tipperary Fire Service is entirely staffed by Retained FireFighters and in 2022 it responded to 748 fire emergencies and 530 other emergency incidents.
