Retained FireFighters in Tipperary and across the Country are hoping that talks at the Workplace Relations Commission commencing today can finally resolve a long running dispute over pay and working conditions.
The firefighters paused industrial action last year on the basis of a recommendation from the Commission that a combination of the Public Sector Pay Deal measures and some specific measures for Retained Firefighters would resolve the dispute.
SIPTU says the Government offer to increase the retainer payment remains too low to be accepted. Approximately 2,000 firefighters round the country are involved – outside of Dublin most firefighters are “retained staff” meaning they have another full time job and respond to calls from their local fire station when required.
The pay and working conditions to date has made recruitment and retention difficult with many fire stations operating with less than a full staff of firefighters.
