TÓIBÍN PRAISES RETAINED FIREFIGHTERS' 'DETERMINATION AND BRAVERY' FOLLOWING DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín TD has welcomed news retained firefighters have accepted a WRC proposal that will mean improved pay for workers who put their lives at risk for their safety of their communities and has praised the determination and bravery of firefighters who only ever wanted a fair deal.
The Meath West TD said:
“Aontú reps from across the country stood by our retained firefighters in their demands for fair pay and conditions since this dispute began, and we are delighted today that a deal has been accepted by SIPTU proposed by the WRC.
It will mean new recruits will enter the service with guaranteed minimum earnings of just over €18,000 and guaranteed earnings for firefighters with more than eight years of service will be over €21,000. This is only fair given the risks these firefighters are taking in serving their communities.
Government Ministers had earned 22 times the salary of someone who had such a dangerous role and served their communities with bravery and now at least there will be a fair deal for these outstanding public sector heroes.
The Government had even sought during this dispute to remove social welfare from those engaged in lawful industrial action, such has been their abhorrent attitudes to those who give so much.
I hope that the victory today by retained firefighters will send a message to Ministers that fair pay and conditions for these workers is their basic duty and that they should be engaging with other disputing workers to ensure that no-one has to battle for conditions that reflect in a small way the positive impact their have in our communities.”
