The Labour Relations Commission (LRC) has intervened in a dispute between fire brigade personnel in Ennis and Clare County Council which could see fire-fighters at the county's busiest fire station down tools before Christmas.
The council was issued with strike notice this week by Siptu following claims that the authority has breached agreements and has refused to agree to the appointment of an arbitrator to resolve long-standing issues.
Confirming the issuing of strike notice, Siptu's Clare county and health service branch organiser, Tony Kenny, said: "We have issued notice of official industrial action to Clare County Council, regarding our members of the retained fire service in Ennis.
"We believe that in recent dealings Clare County Council have breached agreements in spirit and content, transgressed the line of natural justice and put undue pressure on our members."
Ennis fire station is a part-time service covering a catchment area with a population of 60,000 people. It responded to 570 calls last year.
Siptu also believes the issue of "day manning" or making Ennis a full-time service also needs to be looked at. Some fire stations cover smaller areas and respond to fewer calls but have already been made full-time.
At any one time, nine of the station's 15 part-time personnel are on call, which only leaves six positions free for all staff to share for time off, holidays, sick leave, course leave and special time.
That number has recently been reduced to 13, with one person on leave and another relieved of duty because he has not yet passed his truck-driving test.
While neither staff member has been replaced it is understood that another firefighter will soon leave Ennis to take up a full-time position with Limerick city fire service. This will mean that nine of a staff of 12 will be expected to turn out for calls, leaving little time for personnel to take leave.
"We should realise that our fire service are volunteers who, in many instances, put their lives on the line every time they answer a call. They provide a valuable service 24-hours a day, seven days a week, whilst attempting to hold down a day job as well as their fire-service commitments," said Mr Kenny.
He added: "In an effort to avoid the necessity for issuance of notice of official industrial action, and prior to same, we did ask Clare County Council to agree to the appointment of a jointly-agreed arbitrator to resolve the issues between us, but they declined our offer."
The LRC intervened on Wednesday night, and invited both sides to talks in Ennis yesterday.