Siptu members of Dublin Fire Brigade plan industrial action

Siptu members in Dublin Fire Brigade are to take part in a campaign of industrial action on selected dates, the union has announced.

The union has served notice that industrial action will begin on October 5th “due to the failure of Dublin City Council to maintain agreed minimum safety critical staffing levels”.

A spokesman for Dublin City Council said the local authority was engaged in “meaningful negotiation” with the union at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) and hoped to “achieve a resolution” before the start of industrial action.

Siptu sector organiser Brendan O’Brien said the action would “initially” involve members being directed to “refrain from working unsustainable levels of voluntary overtime on selected dates”.

He added that management of Dublin Fire Brigade would be informed of the dates on which the action would take place in coming days.

Siptu Dublin Fire Brigade convenor Gerry Harris said members had been “forced into this regrettable action because of management reneging on an agreement concerning the recruitment of new firefighters which was reached in May 2015”.

He said Dublin City Council had “failed to present a credible alternative plan” during talks at the LRC.