Firefighters warn against cutting frontline services

miceal

Does anyone else think it would be absolutely crazy to cut frontline services back?

They are already stretched to the limit! They state that the overtime is covering firefighter off sick due to their job (Smoke inhalation etc!)

There job is already dangerous/hard enough without cutting resources

link

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/firefighters-warn-against-cutting-frontline-services-1702016.html

FIREFIGHTERS have warned that frontline services must not be cut after the country's largest council announced it was slashing their overtime payments by €3m.

Dublin City Council is to cut almost €30m from its budget -- with the fire service, housing and roads among the areas hardest hit.

The housing budget has been cut by €7.6m, leading to questions about how the city's council housing stock will be maintained in the year ahead.

Meanwhile, the roads department, which is responsible for resurfacing, has been cut by €4.5m.

The Fire Service has been told its overtime bill will be slashed by €3m, while another €1m in savings will be achieved through a "restructuring" of the organisation.

Council staff will see a 50pc reduction in their overtime payments, with those in the housing department hit by a €3.4m cut and those in waste management experiencing a €1.1m cut.

Trade union Impact, which has over 4,000 members working for the council, said it was concerned at the extent of the cutbacks.

"We would have a very genuine concern about the level of service delivery and how that would be affected by these cuts," said a spokesman.

Firefighters said they were worried by the cut in their overtime bill as staff are regularly asked to cover for colleagues.

Paul Smyth, SIPTU representative for the city's 1,000 firefighters and officers, said their priority was always to avoid redundancies, however they now need to see details of how the council plans to deliver the cost savings.

Payments

"We expected cutbacks on overtime and extra payments but we have a commitment from the council that it won't affect frontline services.

"The council, whether it's the Fire Service or any of the other emergency services, is not going to be immune from the recession -- we realise that.

"But we want to make sure it's not going to impact on the welfare of the public," said Mr Smyth.

He pointed out that many firefighters are performing overtime because their colleagues are off sick -- often due to illnesses that arise because of the nature of their work.

Dublin Fire Brigade is also responsible for operating the city's 12 emergency ambulances 24 hours a day, an extra responsibility which generates "a fair amount of overtime", he said.

The council described the cuts as "prudent" and said they were taken due to a fall in government funding as well as a decline in income from commercial and domestic charges.

TheNog

No one likes to see their own service or resources cut but imo cuts in the Fire Service or Ambulance Service is a disgrace of the highest order. Both of these services are absloutely crucial in life saving throughout the country much more than we are in the AGS.

In the AGS it is expected that 1400 will or can retire by October this year, what are the numbers in the FS and NAS?

daithip

Absolutely crazy!! Was just recently chatting to our local chief fire officer, their most of station party is part time and has had 4 retirements in the past year, each of which has not been replaced. He tells me they are already stretched to the limit without their budget being cut.

TheNog

It all brings into disrepute the comments passed last month by our Government that frontline services would not be hit

Smokey Bear

We should know soon enough whats in the pipe line for Dublin Fire Brigade.
There is a lot of questions too about the provision of emergency ambulance service in Dublin by DFB as they are owed over €6 million by HSE for providing this service,does not look like they are going to get paid.Also DFB have put on the road in 2007 an extra ambulance at there own expense to cover the demand ,its based in Swords D134.Would be ashame to see this go but if there is no money what is Dublin City Council to do ?

I personnelly would sell the debt from HSE to a debt collection agency and try and recoup something.

I have read IMPACT trade union position on this and they state
"that the recent Government circulars imposing embargoes on recruitment, promotions and acting-up payments are a breach of national agreements and legal provisions governing information and consultation.The union is referring the matter to the Labour Relations Commission and other appropriate dispute bodies. It is also stating that any matters arising from the circulars, including proposals to reallocate or reorganise work, should be dealt with as industrial relations matters that require negotiation and agreement with IMPACT.
IMPACT position is that any proposals arising from the circulars should be dealt with in industrial relations fora – not through local partnership structures.
IMPACT members are also being advised that, where there are agreed acting-up arrangements in place, they should not take on higher-grade duties without additional payment.
No negotiations – let alone agreement – took place with the union prior to the imposition of the circulars at the end of last month. Neither has there been contact with the unions about promised consultation on proposals for redeployment of staff to fill gaps created by the new embargo in other sections."

So intresting times ahead

Smokey Bear

Daz1214

we need public support on this i feel...the public must be made aware of how crippling a cutback on services will be for the poeple in dublin..if we withdraw the ambulance service from the county and city then it will have disasterous affects on the public as the HSE/ERAS arent capable at present of serving the city

TheNog

Daz-R.A.T.S wrote: »

we need public support on this i feel...the public must be made aware of how crippling a cutback on services will be for the poeple in dublin..if we withdraw the ambulance service from the county and city then it will have disasterous affects on the public as the HSE/ERAS arent capable at present of serving the city

Very true. NAS and FS could make a valid arguement which would probably gain public support but the AGS would find it harder to do now after the GRA publicity stunt of "we do not deserve a pay cut".

Seeing that NAS and FS did not make the mistake of highlighting money worries in these times, ye would have a better chance imo.

arybvtcw0eolkf

When I hear about cuts in the fire service I think of Bray.

And I remember Brian Murray & Mark O'Shaugnessy and the families left behind.

Madness.

Elessar

This is pretty bad alright. Does anyone know how much overtime is actually used in DFB? If it was cut like it is going to be, will there still be the same level of service that we have now, or will ambulances/appliances likely be taken off the road?

Is there any chance of them cutting some full time stations to essentially part-time/retained?

Daz1214

Mairt...i fear thats what will happen, and more afraid that thats what its goin to take for politicians to see sense

elessar...at the moment no, there is very little overtime...but if we are below our stated minimum manning level then its brought in to meet that...but at the moment there is very little going..also they wont drop stations back to retained or parttime, would never be allowed, what is more likely is services will drop i.e fire engines taken off the road

TheNog

Daz-R.A.T.S wrote: »

elessar...at the moment no, there is very little overtime...but if we are below our stated minimum manning level then its brought in to meet that...but at the moment there is very little going..also they wont drop stations back to retained or parttime, would never be allowed, what is more likely is services will drop i.e fire engines taken off the road

Do ye have minimum numbers to have going out on a call before ye can state Health and Safety issues???

In the AGS we must have a 2 man crew in the patrol during hours of darkness. This is set by the job so a Garda can rightly refuse to go out in a car unaccompanied and there is little management can do.

Daz1214

yeah, on the ambulances its a standard 2 man crew unless there is a "third man" or intern doin hours

in a 2 pump station (2 fire engines) there is a driver, officer and 3 crew in the baclk and in the 1 pump stations its a driver, officer and 4 crew in the back...its very rare they will run with 1 less in the back but that depends on circumstances and whether or not you have a second or back motor travellin with you

Paulzx

TheNog wrote: »

Do ye have minimum numbers /QUOTE]

I don't know what way other fire services operate but we have an agreed minimum manning level that has been laid down during talks between management and unions.

Basically this means that a specified minimum crewing level must be maintained at all times. It is different to AGS as we have set number of seats to be filled in each appliance with each seat carrying a role.

For example. Using Phibsboro or Dolphins Barn fire stations who both have the exact same appliances.
At 9.00am parade the station requires 13 FF, 2 Sub officers, 1 Station officer, 1 District Officer. This is the agreed minimum manning level. If only 11 FF's are present due to leave, training etc. 2 more FF's must be found. If an other staion has extra FF's over and above their manning level they will be transferred to fill the vacancies for the shift.

If no surplus FF's are available 2FF's must be brought in on overtime to fill the vacancies and provide the correct and safe manning level.


This is where we are going to run into problems soon. With the amount of retirements that have arisen and no replacements in the pipeline numbers will be down. Add that to the blocks of summer annual leave starting in April ( the private sector cheerleaders will probably say we should be levied on our annual leave aswell:rolleyes:) and we are now in a situation where overtime will be rquired to make up the numbers.

When management havent the money to pay overtime we will be forced to downman. This will mean appliances off the road. We can not afford to have less appliances as we are already operating under what we should.

We are heading towards serious problems