Retained firefighters vote to accept new pay deal

THE ongoing dispute involving Mayo firefighters has come to an end after SIPTU Retained Fire Fighters voted to accept a deal for better pay and conditions.

Today, 63 percent of balloted union members voted in favour of a deal which will see new retained firefighters earn a minimum of €18,000 a year.

This comes of foot of a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) proposal following weeks of industrial action by approximately 120 retained firefighters at all 12 fire stations in Mayo.

Members of the part-time service will now be on call for a minimum of 24 weeks of the year instead of 48 weeks. There will also be with an option to be available more frequently on a voluntary basis.

Under their previous terms, retained firefighters were paid retainer of €8,500 a year in addition to extra payment for each callout.

Firefighters with more than eight years of service will now be guaranteed earnings of over €21,000.

Station officers will earn between €27,256 and €31,511.

During the height of the industrial action, it was claimed that retained fire service as at risk of ‘total collapse’ due to recruitment and retention problems.

The news has been welcomed by Mayo's Aontú representative Paul Lawless, who said his party were 'delighted' with the deal. 

"Government Ministers had earned 22 times the salary of someone who had such a dangerous role and served their communities with bravery and now at least there will be a fair deal for these outstanding public sector heroes," stated Mr Lawless. 

"The Government had even sought during this dispute to remove social welfare from those engaged in lawful industrial action, such has been their abhorrent attitudes to those who give so much.

"I hope that the victory by retained firefighters will send a message to Ministers that fair pay and conditions for essential workers is their basic duty. The Government should engage meaningfully with Section 39 workers and other disputing workers who deliver hugely to their communities."

Karan O'Loughlin, SIPTU Divisional Organiser, said the union expects the terms agreed in the WRC document to be delivered 'in a timely manner'.

"This has been a protracted battle to bring the poor terms and conditions for retained fire fighters into the public domain and to begin the process of rebuilding the Retained Fire Service. While today’s vote ends the current strike, it does not end that battle," said Ms O’Loughlin.

"The WRC document is the beginning of the next stage for the Retained Fire Fighters. SIPTU representatives will be writing immediately to the employers and to the minister. We will advise of the acceptance of the document and seek to engage in discussions in respect of the retainer and the rollout of the WRC terms, especially those clauses that relate to recruitment, pay and time off."