Firefighters threaten to go on stress leave

The Galway Fire and Rescue Service is facing chaos with up to a dozen part-time firefighters threatening to go out sick on stress leave due to an ongoing row over holidays and overtime.

A firefighter has told the Galway City Tribune that the situation is now so serious that by next week there may not even be a retained fire unit, which is a crucial part of the emergency services response.

Their grievances over workplace conditions have been taken up by Fine Gael councillor Padraig Conneely, who believes there is a total lack of respect for the retained fire officers, who lay their lives on the line the same as any full-timer.

It also follows long-term complaints from those working full-time in the service.

They staged a march in the city last February and handed in a letter outlining their concerns to interim County Council Chief Executive, Kevin Kelly – the county’s local authority has responsibility for fire services across Galway.

They claim their pleas for extra recruits, training allowances, sick leave entitlements and basics such as new uniforms are being ignored by management.

Relations between officials and the retained firefighters reached an all-time low six years ago when management decreed that any holidays or training courses could only be taken if the officers arranged cover from those who were off duty.

Retained officers work a week on followed by a week off and collectively the men refused to provide cover during their off-week as many have second jobs or family commitments. As a result, some have accrued holidays of over 100 days.

“I haven’t taken a holiday in nearly seven years. You won’t get someone to cover you for a week. There’s lads going to see psychiatrists they are so stressed out and anxious. The management have just destroyed the retained fire service,” the firefighter exclaimed.

“We spent three weeks away from our families fighting the gorse fires. Three weeks later, they stopped the overtime on us and said it should be given to the county lads. It’s a disgrace.”

Speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution from management, the firefighter said many hearings in the Labour Court and dozens of meetings had failed to break the impasse.

Retained firefighters routinely used to respond to incidents within six minutes of getting the call-up, which would be rewarded with a bonus hour. They are so disillusioned that they are only responding within 15 minutes, the maximum allowable time under their contract and are forgoing the bonus.

“If you can’t get a second pump out the gates in under 15 minutes in a city the size of Galway there’s something really wrong. They [management] have destroyed morale. I think there will be ten lads out sick on stress leave by next week and there won’t be a retained service. You can’t go to a fire or cut a family out of a car with this anxiety hanging over you.”

Cllr Conneely said the retained firefighters played a hugely important role in the city.

“Galway City Council contributes €4.6m for fire services to Galway County Council. It’s not good enough that the part-time firefighters who play such a vital role in protecting property and saving lives are left totally frustrated by the current workplace conditions.”