Firefighters Escalate Industrial Strike Over Pay & Conditions Dispute

Retained firefighters have extended their industrial strike in a row over pay and working conditions.

Over the last two months, almost 2,000 firefighters who are represented by SPITU nationwide, have engaged in industrial action, as they demand better working conditions and pay, with picket lines placed across 200 retained fire stations.

SIPTU have even warned that if this campaign does not encourage management to re-enter talks, then an additional one station will close each week in each county, from next Saturday onwards.

The trade union have stated that fire stations would "go dark" from 8am this morning, with no internal communications other than life saving information available, with part time staff paid a retainer for being on-call.  

The Government have been accused by SIPTU of failing to respond to to legitimate concerns,