Firefighters are staging an official demonstration outside Anglesea Street fire station this morning calling for the reopening of Ballincollig Fire station.
The station in Ballincollig has been closed since November 2021 as it doesn't have a fully retained fire service
Firefighters say that the Council would prefer to open the fire station as a retained station, however it is proving impossible to recruit people to take on that role and as a result the station has remained closed.
This is Phase One of the action and firefighters say it is mainly impacting their administrative tasks and they will be responding to all calls.
However before and after each shift change firefighters will stage a protest outside to raise public awareness.
Speaking to RedFM News Firefighter and SIPTU representative William Crowley says this rolling action will continue until this issue has been resolved.
"Cork City Council, their preferred option would be toped it as a retained station, like the stations in Carrigaline or Mallow. That's where people carry a pager who are firefighters, and when a call comes in their pager goes off and they respond to the station.
"Unfortunately throughout the country it's becoming nearly impossible to recruit people in villages and towns to take on that role."
When asked by RedFM News what they were hoping today's action would achieve, William Crowley said: "we're hoping to raise awareness in the public, and we're very hopeful that Cork City Council will put a proposal to crew Ballincollig Fire Station on a full time basis."
In a statement, Cork City Council said:
"Cork City Council would like to reassure the public that industrial action commenced by SIPTU members of Cork City Fire Brigade this morning will not impact Cork City Fire Brigade emergency service delivery.
"Cork City Council invited SIPTU to talks with a view to finding a solution to this dispute and the Council remain available to meet union representatives. Last night, Cork City Council also sought the assistance of the Workplace Relations Commission.
"Cork City Council is committed to engaging in meaningful and focused discussions with all parties involved and to using the established industrial relations machinery of the State to agree a path forward to resolve matters. Management is disappointed that union members have chosen to mount an industrial action when the Council had already made itself available for discussions."
