Image via Twitter/ @SIPTUOn-call firefighters are escalating their strike action.
After what they say is a failure by Government to respond to their legitimate concerns, SIPTU has announced all retained fire stations in Ireland will "go dark" at 8am this Saturday.
It means the stations will continue to attend emergencies but will have zero communications with local authority radio control centres.
SIPTU says, if their demands for better pay and conditions still go unanswered by Saturday 19th August, they will start shutting one station in each county every week.
Tom Kitterick from Westport Fire Station is chair of SIPTU's National Negotiating Committee - he says they've no choice but to take a stand against management and the government:
"By taking another step of the rung, it will impact on cover."
"All calls will be covered but there will be delays, there's no point in pretending there won't be delays in some areas in the response."
