Firefighters escalate industrial action with up to half of stations closed today

A previous protest by Siptu firefighters. A new series of rolling stoppages begins today, with Siptu saying the action could escalate to an all-out strike on June 20 if the dispute has not been resolved by then. File picture: Larry Cummins

Almost 50% of firefighters will engage in work stoppages today to protest at what they say are unfair and unmanageable pay and conditions.

Gerrard O’Donovan, a firefighter with Bantry fire station in West Cork, said firefighters have been “backed into a corner” by the Government’s continued refusal to enter discussions about pay.