Labour Court recommends changes for retained firefighters

The Labour Court recommended changes to arrangements affecting retained firefighters at Galway County Council in a determination signed on 14 January 2014. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union had raised concerns about safety, staffing and the proposed changes; the council said discussions had taken place over several years and similar changes operated elsewhere. The Court recommended that both sides negotiate a new leave-cover agreement over three months and agree a training structure within eight weeks. It also recommended that the union accept revised boundaries introduced by the council, followed by a risk assessment and discussions about compensation for affected firefighters. The two driver mechanic posts should be discussed nationally and kept filled on an acting basis in the meantime.