The Workplace Relations Commission recommended that a local authority introduce clear eligibility rules for employees seeking to hold waterworks and retained fire service roles at the same time. Adjudication Officer Úna Glazier-Farmer dated the recommendation 30 May 2023.
The worker said he gave up a retained firefighter role to take a waterworks caretaker job, then was not offered a fire service position after completing training. SIPTU accompanied him. The local authority argued that both on-call jobs could require emergency call-outs at the same time.
The adjudicator said both services require emergency call-outs and that waterworks duties can involve emergencies and public health incidents. She accepted there was no clear policy, but said that alone did not resolve the practical conflict between the roles. The local authority was recommended to put clear eligibility rules in place within eight weeks.