Fórsa members at the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) took part in a 24-hour work stoppage yesterday (Thursday 20th). The action by 110 inspectors and clerical staff affected operations at six sea fishery harbours: Killybegs, Co Donegal, Ros-a-Mhíl, Co Galway, An Daingean (Dingle), Co Kerry, Castletownbere, Co Cork, Dunmore East, Co Waterford and Howth, Co Dublin.

A further 48-hour stoppage is set to take place next week.

The action had previously been suspended in March 2021 when the parties had agreed to attend a reconciliation process under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), in a dispute involving the findings of an independent review of the SFPA.

Fórsa had agreed a proposal with management to undertake a joint approach to implementing a series of 47 recommendations that emerged from the review. However, management then sought to impose the recommendations without the input of the staff representatives.

Fórsa members at the SFPA, who are represented by the union’s Marine branch, voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in February 2021. Following the suspension of the March 2021 stoppage, meetings took place as part of the WRC reconciliation process in March, April and May. But no resolution was reached.

The dispute was referred to the Labour Court and a hearing took place in June 2021. The Court ultimately advised the parties that the dispute could only be resolved through a binding arbitration, which both parties assented to.

But the arbitration, scheduled for July 2021, was disrupted at the last minute when the SFPA informed the Court that any outcome would need to be approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Consequently, the Labour Court said it was unable to assist any further.

Following the collapse of the industrial relations process last year, SFPA management has continued to alter core working conditions and agreements unilaterally. It has sought to introduce a new industrial relations process, which the union says is an attempt to frustrate the state industrial relation resolution process it had previously committed to.

Consequently, Fórsa issued notice for yesterday’s action, and for a further 48-hour work stoppage from midnight next Tuesday (25th January).

The union said a commitment from SFPA to return to a binding Labour Court arbitration without preconditions would have a significant chance of acceptance by Fórsa members and avoid any future work stoppages.

Fórsa official Ian McDonnell commented: “Planned work stoppages could be suspended immediately if the SFPA, which is a State agency, agrees to resolve the issue in the State’s leading industrial relations forum, on the basis of the Labour Court’s request that the outcome be binding on both parties.

“Fórsa is not seeking a veto on the Labour Court process, and SFPA shouldn’t either. If the SFPA would accept that both sides should make their case in the Labour Court, and join us in accepting that the outcome will be binding, there would be no stoppage taking place.”

In a letter to SFPA management on Tuesday (18th), Fórsa confirmed that essential cover would be provided throughout the stoppages in line with provisions in the Disputes Code of Practice (COP). This includes cover in the event of a serious food safety emergency, exemptions for members at sea participating in EFCA patrols and administering payroll duties during the stoppage, as well as named points of contact In the event of emergencies.