Galway fire-fighters row goes back to negotiating table

The court has issued four recommendations covering different aspects of the long-running dispute between fire-fighters and their employer in the local authority, which dates back several years. 

The dispute relates to various proposed changes affecting retained fire-fighters – agreement could not be reached between the union representing workers, SIPTU, and the County Council.

The matter was subsequently referred to the Labour Court and a hearing took place in December – the court’s recommendations were published this week.

The union argued workers had serious concerns about the proposed changes – they said the changes would create considerable health and safety difficulties for workers. They also argued the new proposed staffing levels were insufficient.

The employer, the County Council, argued the workers were refusing to embrace change envisaged by national public service agreements, including Haddington Road. They said discussions about change had taken place over several years and the proposed changes were operated successfully elsewhere in the country.

Read more in today’s Connacht Sentinel