Laois TD urging 'realistic offer' for fire fighters set for strike
Laois firefighters need a "realistic offer on the table" to avert strikes, says a local TD.
Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley is calling on the Government and the Local Government Management Association (LGMA) to put realistic offers on the table to avert escalating strike action.
Laois fire crews are among the 2,000 retained fire fighters nationwide preparing to begin daily strike action starting on Tuesday, June 13.
“I met firefighters again this week, who have outlined the recruitment and retention crisis that the Service is facing. They expressed their frustration with the lack of progress in discussions on pay and conditions with both Government and the LGMA.
“It’s not good enough any longer for the book to be passed around on this issue. The Retained firefighters’ model, as currently constructed, is no longer sustainable.
“On top of the recruitment crisis, a recent report commissioned by the Government found that 60% retained staff are considering leaving in the next 2 years. In some fire stations across Laois/Offaly staffing numbers are down to the minimum of 5. This in turn is compromising staff safety when they go out on call.’’
“A realistic offer needs to be put on the table by Government and the LGMA to avert the escalation of industrial action. It is needed also to attract new staff into the service and to deal with the retention crisis. It has proven to be impossible to recruit sufficient staff to work into a service where they are on call around the clock for 340 days per year. They must stay within 3 kms of the local fire station and comply with a host of conditions for a retainer salary of €8000 to €11,500 thousand per year.
“We in Sinn Féin have been liaising with their unions and workers representatives on this issue over the past year and we have been raising it with Ministers and Government in the Dáil. This week we are using our speaking time in the Dáil to impress on Government the importance of having a structured pay agreement and proper proposals on rosters and working conditions to be put on the table.
“This dispute will not be resolved without meaningful engagement by Government and LGMA, Dep Stanley said’’.