As Storm Chandra continues to batter Ireland with heavy rain, high winds, and flooding, resulting in travel disruption and power outages, SIPTU has renewed its call for a binding national protocol to govern how Local Authority and State Agency workers are deployed, protected, and paid in response to extreme weather events.
SIPTU is demanding fair and additional remuneration for work directly associated with extreme weather emergencies, including extended hours, emergency callouts, standby duties, redeployment, and high-risk tasks carried out during weather alerts.
SIPTU Public Administration and Community Divisional Organiser, Brendan O’Brien, said: “Local Authority and State Agency workers are at the forefront of the State’s response to events like Storm Chandra, which has led to widespread disruption across the island of Ireland today.
“Our members in Local Authorities and State Agencies are out there dealing with flooding, fallen trees, travel disruption, and damage to infrastructure. They are keeping roads clear, restoring services, and protecting communities. This is emergency work, carried out under very difficult conditions, and it must be recognised and fairly compensated.
“SIPTU’s Local Authority Sector members are already campaigning for a comprehensive review of their terms and conditions. This broader campaign seeks recognition of the wide range of additional duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills now required of members across Local Authorities and State Agencies, beyond what historic terms and conditions reflect.”
He added: “The nature of Local Authority work has changed dramatically over time. Members now take on a far broader range of duties, higher levels of responsibility and qualification, and complex tasks that go well beyond what their terms and conditions cover.”
SIPTU Local Authority Sector Organiser, Con Casey, said: “We are calling for a clear, sector-wide protocol that guarantees fair pay for extreme weather work and removes the current reliance on ad hoc local arrangements. We are also calling on the Government to formally recognise Local Authorities as the central coordinators of the State’s response to extreme weather, with responsibility for cross-departmental cooperation, resource sharing, and the deployment of skilled public sector personnel.”
He added: “Workers deserve certainty and respect. They must know in advance how pay, health and safety protections, rest periods, and recovery time apply when they are asked to respond to emergencies.”