Fire-fighters have reluctantly accepted Labour Court intervention in their pay dispute. The court has invited the unions and Dublin Corporation to a hearing on Monday to review progress and seek a settlement.
While the corporation and unions have welcomed the intervention, many rank-and-file fire fighters are making no secret of the fact that they do not want Monday's court hearing to lead to a deferment of industrial action, set for June 3rd.
The chairman of the Labour Court, Mr Finbarr Flood, issued a recommendation which narrowly averted a national strike by fire-fighters last February, and he faces a similarly difficult task on Monday. Fire-fighters' salaries start at £12,000 and go to £29,000 for the most senior ranks. In February Mr Flood awarded the city's 810 fire-fighters a 7 per cent rise under the local bargaining clause of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress.
Mr Flood proposed that both sides discuss what extra productivity should be conceded for the remaining 2 per cent needed to maintain parity with gardai.
Progress was made on most outstanding issues but issues involving rostering, the civilianisation of some duties and redeployment of staff reached an impasse. Mr Douglas suggested that the corporation agree to pay the full award of £6 million to the fire-fighters.
Jim Cusack, Security Correspondent, adds: The Defence Forces yesterday rejected suggestions by soldiers' representatives that it was unprepared to provide an emergency fire service in the event of a strike by civilian firemen.