Fire service industrial action in Tipp

SIPTU have advised that their members in the Retained Fire Service commenced industrial action across the country on the 6th of June; this will be followed by rolling strikes on the 13th of June, and all out strikes on the 20th of June.

As part of the normal industrial relations protocol of agreeing contingency plans, Tipperary County Council have engaged with SIPTU at local level to put in place robust contingency arrangements, which will be kept under review throughout this dispute. SIPTU have confirmed that throughout the strike action it will comply with the provisions of the Code of Practice on emergency disputes, reflecting the professionalism and dedication of our retained fire service personnel to ensure that fire services are provided throughout this industrial action. They have confirmed that they will continue to respond to all emergency calls involving life-threatening situations.

Tipperary County Council’s priority throughout this process is to ensure employee and public safety and every effort will be made to mitigate any risk to our employees and the public arising from this industrial action.

All households and businesses should ensure that they have working smoke alarms and should continue to call 112 or 999 in the case of an emergency.

WATER SERVICES STRIKE AVERTED

Meanwhile, a nationwide strike by SIPTU members in local authority water services including Tipperary has been averted following the decision by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, to concede to their demands to have all their earnings protected if they do not transfer to Uisce Éireann.

SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division Organiser, Karan O Loughlin, said: “A strike, which was to commence on June 7, and could have adversely impacted water services across the country, has been averted by the intervention of Minister O’Brien.

“The minister has written to SIPTU and categorically stated that workers who opt to stay in local authority employment rather than transfer to Uisce Éireann will have all their earnings protected. The letter specifically includes guarantees in relation to workers’ allowances and overtime payments they accrue currently as part of their work. The letter gives concrete examples of how the earnings of our members will be protected and removes an attempt by individual local authorities to renege on this commitment.”

She added: “This is a major success for our members who had been forced to schedule strike action that would have had a far-reaching impact. The concession by the Minister to their demands is a testament to the power of workers when they stand in solidarity with their colleagues to protect their interests.”

Local authority worker and chairperson of the SIPTU water workers national negotiating committee, Stephen Kelly, said: “This was a very challenging situation for local authority water workers. Their level of commitment to the communities that they serve is very strong and this decision to take industrial action was not taken lightly.

“The demand from our members was simple; that the Government provide cast iron guarantees that a commitment that their earnings would be protected if they do not transfer to the new national water utility would be honoured. We believe we have now secured such a guarantee from the minister in a manner which will not allow individual local authorities to deviate from it.”

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Brendan O’Brien added: “The protection of our members earnings was a commitment given by local authorities and the Government in the Framework for the Future of Water Services document which lays out the move towards a national public water utility.

“Unfortunately, as this document was being implemented it became clear certain local authorities were not living up to the protection of earnings commitment. This forced our members to vote for strike action, which they were to commence next Wednesday. It is to be welcomed that the minister has seen sense and provided the guarantees which were demanded.”