Dublin Fire Brigade strike action averted after talks with Dublin Lord Mayor

Planned strike action by members of Dublin Fire Brigade has been averted after talks with Dublin Lord Mayor, Brendan Carr.

Union members from both SIPTU and IMPACT trade unions had planned on staging two 24-hour work stoppages later this month.

However, at a meeting last night it was agreed that management from Dublin City Council and representatives from the two unions would enter into facilitated negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing dispute.

Lord Mayor Carr said: “I am sure that it will come as a great relief to the residents of Dublin that the immediate threat of a strike by such key members of our city’s emergency services has been averted.

He continued: “At today’s talks I was impressed by the total commitment by both sides in this dispute to providing the best possible emergency medical service for the residents of Dublin.

“With this concern uniting both the management of Dublin City Council and the trade unions representing the members of the Dublin Fire Brigade, I am hopeful that an agreed solution can be found which ensures the best outcome for our city.”

The dispute with Dublin City Council, is over attempts by senior management to break up the Emergency Medical Service provided by 12 Dublin Fire Brigade ambulances – which would result in the city ambulance service being operated solely by the HSE National Ambulance Service (NAS).

In a statement from SIPTU last night a spokesperson for the Trade Union said: “Following an invitation from the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Brendan Carr, in relation to the imminent industrial action by members of the Dublin Fire Brigade, scheduled for 18th and 27th March, both unions and the senior management of Dublin City Council held a meeting in the Mansion House, Dublin 2.

“Arising from those discussions, which were facilitated by the Lord Mayor, both SIPTU and IMPACT have secured a commitment from the management of Dublin City Council to enter into an independent process, chaired by the former Director General of the Workplace Relations Commission, Kieran Mulvey.

“This process will address the unions’ concerns with regard to the delivery of the Dublin Fire Brigade Fire Based Emergency Medical Service.

“The management of Dublin City Council has also given an unequivocal commitment that this process will be the sole and singular forum for consideration of all of these issues.

“As a result, both unions have agreed to a request by the Lord Mayor to defer the planned industrial action.

“Both unions would like to thank the Lord Mayor for his assistance.

“This outcome has been achieved as a result of the commitment and solidarity of union members in Dublin Fire Brigade, as well as the overwhelming support they have received from the public and their elected representatives.”