Firefighters go on a work to rule in row over report delay

FIREFIGHTERS in Dundalk and Drogheda have gone on a work to rule in a row with Louth County Council about the release of findings from an investigation into the failure of breathing apparatus, which was first revealed earlier this year.

An investigation was launched after fire fighters in Louth reported two failures of breathing equipment in 2016 and one of the apparatuses was sent to an independent assessor.

But after almost seven months, Louth fire fighters say they are still waiting for the investigation report to be completed and released to them.

On Wednesday evening, fire fighters in both Dundalk and Drogheda Fire Stations went on a work to rule in, according to a source, ‘pure desperation to have Louth County Council to release the findings of the investigation and to engage in meaningful communication with staff with regard to this very serious issue’.

Louth County Council said they would be making no comment.

According to the source: ‘Other than a number of fire fighters being interviewed as part of the investigation there has been an unwillingness by Louth County Council to involve fire service staff in any of the meetings pertaining to this investigation.

‘On a number of occasions members of staff, union officials and health and safety representatives have requested to attend key meetings and meet with one of the technical experts carrying out the investigation but have been refused by council management who said that it would not be appropriate for staff to be involved at this stage’.

It is understood that earlier this month, there was an indication that the investigation report would be circulated to management first and then to fire service staff the following day and it was on this basis that fire fighters decided to hold off on any action. But the report was not given to fire service staff and this resulted in a work to rule taking place.

Last Thursday, all full-time staff in both Dundalk and Drogheda stations have received individual letters a senior council official stating that because of their action fire fighters are ‘in breach of their Public Service Agreement’ and as a result of their action ‘an adjustment to pay rates provided under this agreement is being withdrawn with immediate effect’.

‘We would like to reassure members of the public that this action in no way will have any impact on the operational response of the fire service attending incident as and when required and fire fighters will continue to wear breathing apparatus in order to carry out their operational duties,’ the source stated.

‘All we ever wanted was a speedily investigation and an assurance that such a failure of the apparatus would never happen again. When this process started we were assured that the process would be open and transparent.’