Industrial action planned by SIPTU members in Dublin Fire Brigade has been suspended after the Workplace Relations Commission stepped in to mediate a dispute over the rollout of a new Computer Aided Dispatch system.
The action, which was due to begin today, involved firefighters refusing to cooperate with the new call-out and dispatch system.
SIPTU had raised serious safety concerns, arguing the CAD system would only cover fire and rescue calls, leaving out ambulance and paramedic services, which are also provided by Dublin Fire Brigade.
SIPTU Organiser Geoff McEvoy welcomed the WRC’s intervention, saying it allows time for “meaningful negotiations” with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which is responsible for the rollout.
Talks are now scheduled to take place at the WRC on Friday, 12th September. Until then, the union says its members will continue to work as normal, and no further implementation of the new CAD system will proceed.
The Department has defended the system, saying it is designed to maximise public safety and allow 999 calls to be handled by any of the three Regional Communication Centres.
