Siptu firefighters ballot for strike

Firefighters in Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) have voted for industrial action, up to strike level, in a dispute which they say was provoked by Dublin City Council decision to “renege” on an agreement about recruiting new staff.

Siptu’s DFB convener, Gerry Harris, said: “As a result of the reneging on an agreement reached in May, concerning the recruitment of new firefighters, our members in DFB have been exposed by management to increased and unacceptable levels of risk.

“Our members in DFB share the concerns expressed by the chief fire officer and Dublin City Council senior management that the changed recruitment process will not deliver the required numbers and will delay the employment of new firefighters.”

Mr Harris said, in the meantime, the public and firefighters will be exposed to higher levels of risk due to “severe” understaffing.

Siptu said Dublin Fire Brigade is estimated to be 70 firefighters under strength.

“By January 2016, this figure is expected to have risen to over 100, meaning the brigade will be operating with between 10% and 15% less than the required level of firefighters to meet safety standards,” it said.

Dublin City Council said it noted the ballot outcome and was engaging with Siptu through “normal local industrial relations mechanism”.