SIPTU members in Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) have this afternoon (Friday, 2nd October) accepted Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) proposals on a recruitment plan that will see numbers in the service brought up to safe minimum manning levels within an agreed timeframe. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Brendan O’Brien, said: “Following a series of meetings, Dublin City Council and SIPTU firefighter representatives have agreed to a set of proposals tabled by the WRC. The main provisions of this agreement include a commitment by both parties that numbers in the DFB should be brought up to 963, in line with the agreed safe manning levels that have been in place since 1991.“In order to meet this commitment a time lined recruitment and promotion programme within DFB has been agreed. Also, it has been agreed to establish a joint working group to look at ways to address the current shortages in firefighters pending the arrival of the new recruits. A further joint working group will seek to agree arrangements that will ensure that such a situation of unsafe manning levels in the DFB does not arise again.”SIPTU DFB Convenor, Gerry Harris, said: “Due to the parties reaching this agreement the industrial action by SIPTU members in DFB, which was scheduled to commence on Monday, 5th October, has been cancelled with immediate effect. It was due to the fact that SIPTU members in DFB are organised in an effective manner that this agreement was attained. This agreement once implemented will ensure that firefighters can provide the best service possible to the residents of Dublin."
SIPTU agrees deal to bring Dublin Fire Brigade numbers up to safe level
