Part-time firefighters call off strike after negotiations

PART-TIME firefighters have called off their proposed strike next week.

After 11 hours of negotiations yesterday, SIPTU and the local authorities agreed to set up an expert group to resolve the dispute.

Up to 1,900 part-time firefighters voted two weeks ago for a nationwide strike in a dispute over the mandatory retirement age of 55 and the size of the retirement lump sum. Part-time firefighters get one year’s payment for every 10 year’s service when they retire but want payment for one in five.