Dublin Fire Brigade members vote overwhelmingly for strike action in ambulance dispute
Siptu firefighters have overwhelmingly voted in favour of taking industrial and strike action.
Their dispute has resulted from an attempt by senior management in Dublin City Council to break up the Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) emergency medical service by outsourcing its ambulance call and dispatch function.
Siptu firefighters voted by 93% to 7% in favour of strike action and 97% to 3% in favour of industrial action, in a ballot counted this morning in Liberty Hall, Dublin 1.
"Our members have given an emphatic mandate to the Siptu DFB strike committee to take whatever industrial measures are required to resist the attempts to break-up the emergency medical service," said Siptu sector organiser, Brendan O’Brien
"What the senior management of Dublin City Council is attempting by seeking to outsource the ambulance call and dispatch function of the DFB emergency medical service would compromise the safety of our members, who deliver this critical lifesaving service, as well as expose the public to increased risk," said John King, Siptu public administration and community organiser division.
"In the coming days, the Siptu DFB strike committee will consider the options available to it and decide upon the next steps in our campaign to retain the DFB emergency medical service as a fully functioning operation capable of delivering the best service possible to the residents of Dublin.
"Siptu representatives remain available for meaningful engagement with the the senior management of Dublin City Council if it is genuinely interested in finding an acceptable resolution to this long running dispute."
