All 12 Mayo fire stations to 'go dark' from Saturday

ALL 12 Mayo fire stations will 'go dark' from Saturday (August 12) as part of the latest escalation of industrial action by retained firefighters. 

Today (Wednesday) the SIPTU National Retained Fire Fighter Committee has today confirmed that union members will escalate their strike action due to the failure of government to respond to their concerns. 

This week, half of Mayo fire stations have been completely shut on any given day, with crews frequently assisting stations from other areas. 

A proposed pay increase, which came on foot of a Labour Court recommendation, was recently rejected by retained firefighters, who commenced strike action nine weeks ago. 

SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division Organiser, Karan O'Loughlin, has accused the government of 'astonishing' silence regarding retained firefighters' concerns. 

"It has abandoned the retained fire service, leaving fire fighters at the side of the road in an effort to break their dispute," Ms O'Loughlin stated. 

"This strategy will not work. The men and women of the retained service are steadfast in their belief that the service will collapse if adequate measures are not taken to address the current recruitment and retention crisis and this dispute will continue until this happens. 

"Today the National Retained Fire Fighter Committee agreed that we would inform the management that, as of 8.00 a.m. on Saturday, August 12, all stations will go dark and will have no internal communications other than life saving information."

SIPTU has threatened that one additional fire station will close across the county every week if negotiations are not re-started. 

"Stations around the country are already closed fifty per cent of the time because of the refusal by management to agree adequate cover arrangements with fire fighters, and because many of them don’t have enough staff to respond to calls. This situation will now escalate," added Ms O'Loughlin. 

SIPTU Local Authority Sector Organiser, Brendan O’Brien said: "While members are angry at the lack of respect and support for the service shown by management and politicians, they are buoyed by the support they are receiving from the people in their own communities. This anger had transformed itself now into determination to ensure that this dispute delivers for the new recruits that are needed and for the future of the service."