Fire officers in seven counties are threatening strike action, because of a long-standing pay anomaly. Nine officers out of around 60 are earning £30 a week less than their colleagues.
SIPTU branch secretary Mr Mike Jennings said yesterday the union would be balloting all branch members for a strike because management had been refusing to take the case to the Labour Court. The counties affected are Kildare, Longford, south Tipperary, Westmeath, Offaly, Mayo and Meath.