Labour Court rejects fire fighters’ claim to restore Ballincollig’s fourth pump on overtime

The Labour Court could not recommend the 150 Fire Fighters’ claim to restore Ballincollig’s fourth pump using interim overtime cover. In a recommendation dated 20 June 2022, it urged Cork City Council to expedite recruitment to fill vacancies at Ballincollig Fire Station. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union (SIPTU) said reduced staffing threatened the safety of firefighters and the public, and sought overtime cover while recruitment continued. The council argued that fewer call-outs and available full-time staff meant the pump could be covered when needed, while ongoing overtime would impose an excessive cost. The Court noted that almost all hours of the earlier cover until November 2021 had been worked by full-time firefighters on overtime. It said appointing retained firefighters was the way to restore established staffing and expressed concern that recruitment remained under way about nine months after vacancies arose.