Retained fire-fighters commit to industrial action if unsafe changes imposed
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SIPTU members in the Retained Fire Services have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action, including strike action, in a dispute related to attempts to decrease fire appliance crewing levels, at ballots counted on Friday, 20th March. SIPTU National Retained Fire-fighter Organiser, Con Casey, said: “Our members have voted resoundingly to oppose any attempt to unilaterally implement cuts to crewing levels or other changes to national agreements, which they believe will endanger firefighters and the public.
“The vote in favour of industrial action was 97%, while the vote for strike action was over 95%, with a turnout of over 80%. It is clear that our members will not accept this attempt by the Department of Environment to push through reductions in fire-fighter crewing levels which could jeopardise the health and safety of the public who rely on this critical emergency service.”
SIPTU represents over 1700 of the 2000 retained fire-fighters employed by local authorities across the country. SIPTU members in the full-time fire service are also balloting on industrial action in a disputed concerning the same issue, this ballot result will be announced next month.
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