Retained Firefighters that are currently receiving social welfare payments are expressing concerns that they will be penalised by the Department of Social Protection for taking part in industrial action.
Retained firefighters that participated in picket duty earlier this month have been asked to supply details to the Department of Social Protection. Management at the HeadQuarters of the Tipperary Fire Service in Clonmel issued letters to each affected Retained Firefighter to record the dates of industrial action.
Many personnel in the Retained Fire Service are on social welfare payments because of the low level of the retainer payment – the only guaranteed part of their income. The retainer payment for a new member is €8,500 per year, along with call out fees.
The action by the Department has resulted in some Retained Fire Fighters including those in Tipperary, taking the decision not to picket their Fire Station and instead are placing posters indicating “Official Dispute” at the Station.
Relations are said to be further strained by the actions of Rostered officers or Fire Service Management locally in not complying with an agreement between SIPTU and the LGMA as regards communication systems. The Retained Firefighters are refusing to use the Radio System as part of their industrial action and want management to use telephones to link with Fire Fighters and the Munster Regional Command Centre.
