Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Eamonn Farrell via RollingNews.ie

Explainer: Why are Irish Coast Guard search-and-rescue helicopter pilots taking industrial action?

From Thursday, the pilots will engage in a work-to-rule action.

IRISH COAST GUARD search-and-rescue service helicopter pilots are set to take industrial action from midday on Thursday. 

The pilots are taking action as a result of a dispute on rostering issues. 

But what does this industrial action actually entail and how has this dispute reached this point? 

Firstly, the Irish Coast Guard search-and-rescue service is operated under contract company CHC. CHC operates five aircraft in Ireland as part of the Irish search and rescue service. There are four aircraft based across four bases, and one is a back-up aircraft. 

Last week, the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa), a branch of the trade union Fórsa, issued a notice of industrial action to CHC. This happened after a ballot of Ialpa members at CHC overwhelmingly supported industrial action. 

Fórsa official Brendan O’Hanlon said the union met with CHC management on Monday but no progress had been made on the rostering issue. 

So, what are the roster issues? 

O’Hanlon said roster issues have been an “ongoing problem for 18 months”, and that the service is “over-reliant on overtime”. 

“The service is over-reliant on overtime in order to maintain the required level of service, and has survived for a prolonged period on the goodwill and tolerance of the pilots themselves,” he said. 

“This is simply unsustainable.” 

What will the industrial action entail? 

From Thursday, the pilots will engage in a work-to-rule action. 

This means they will work a fixed pattern roster of six days of work (containing three 24-hour shifts) followed by three calendar days free of all duties and obligations to CHC. 

“The fixed pattern roster will continue indefinitely until CHC management and Ialpa agree a resolution on the issue,” O’Hanlon said. 

“The ballot was called after repeated attempts to convince CHC management of their obligations contained in the Pilot Services Agreement (PSA).” 

In a statement, the CHC said it “employs the full complement of pilots to operate the aircraft as part of the Irish SAR service. A full complement consists of 37 pilots and currently there are 37 pilots employed”. 

 What happens now? 

Well, in short, the industrial action looks set to continue until an agreement is reached. 

O’Hanlon said Ialpa had sought a mandate for industrial action up to and including strike action if management continues to breach existing collective agreements, including the current PSA, and if CHC failed to implement the current agreed fixed pattern roster and annual level agreement. 

“We expect pilots to be able to work their agreed rosters to management to ensure the rostering situation is sustainable,” O’Hanlon said. 

“Until we can reach an agreement to achieve that, this industrial action is absolutely necessary.”  

CRC said in its statement: “Ialpa has notified the company of its decision to take industrial action. Industrial action would see pilots working to agreed roster patterns. CHC is committed to continuing to engage in dialogue with the union to avoid industrial action.” 

A spokesperson for the Department of Transport said it “would not be appropriate or helpful for the Department to comment at this moment, as it is an internal IR dispute within CHCI DAC”. 

“The Department is aware that there is ongoing engagement on the matter,” the spokesperson said. 

The Coast Guard and the Department are monitoring the issue as it evolves, they said. 

Both parties met again yesterday afternoon and are due to meet again today. 

The scheduled action is still set to go ahead, but Fórsa has said both parties are continuing to engaging in order to try and find a solution. 

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
7 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Red
    Favourite Tom Red
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 6:19 PM

    Is it only in square bales that cocaine come in????….
    Or does it comes in round bales too?????…..

    513
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pinel G
    Favourite Pinel G
    Report
    Sep 26th 2014, 12:14 AM

    41 bales seems an odd number to me, i would bet a bail or 4 has disappeared.

    121
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rory Corbett
    Favourite Rory Corbett
    Report
    Sep 26th 2014, 6:47 AM

    42 would give some meaning to life.

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Mac
    Favourite Paddy Mac
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:24 PM

    It was for my own personal use judge!

    400
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Antonov Merinov
    Favourite Antonov Merinov
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:53 PM

    Did Gerry Boyle ( The Guard ) have any involvement?

    122
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dublinjonny
    Favourite Dublinjonny
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:25 PM

    Someone will be sleeping with the fishes over this amount being taken off them

    362
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Glen
    Favourite Glen
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:39 PM

    Good !

    139
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Silent Majority
    Favourite Silent Majority
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:48 PM

    Doubt they’ll bother so long as nobody talks. It’s only worth €80m once it’s actually in Europe because that’s what we’ll pay for it, but to the Colombians it’s probably a few hundred quids worth & easily replaced. They’ll put this down to natural wastage, and the European buyers don’t pay as the product never actually reached the destination (small customers pay a 50% deposit, big buyers are COD only).
    Fair play to those involved and all, they’re just doing their jobs, but this will make exactly zero difference to anyone other than those arrested.

    173
    See 8 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simon Barnes
    Favourite Simon Barnes
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:56 PM

    this was probably the decoy ship and the one with 500 million on it just got through.

    354
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nicholas
    Favourite Nicholas
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 6:24 PM

    I doubt it.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute JustMade Ireland
    Favourite JustMade Ireland
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 6:53 PM

    The do this them selfs, whille the cops are here they bringing the stuf in else were.

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Charlie Timmins
    Favourite Charlie Timmins
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 10:07 PM

    Oh well said. Skilled use of words and grammar there.

    169
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute BC
    Favourite BC
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 11:48 PM

    Justmade, they do da do they don’t they though.

    68
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richard McCarthy
    Favourite Richard McCarthy
    Report
    Sep 26th 2014, 12:23 AM

    Hahaha, sounds like some people never got passed primary school.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Silent Majority
    Favourite Silent Majority
    Report
    Sep 26th 2014, 12:25 AM

    *past

    129
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Clarke
    Favourite John Clarke
    Report
    Sep 26th 2014, 12:00 PM

    Great job. Well done.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Cassidy
    Favourite Stephen Cassidy
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:31 PM

    €80 million of cocaine seized, that’s not to be sniffed at …

    306
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eric Lensherr
    Favourite Eric Lensherr
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:49 PM

    There were 42 bales yesterday.

    190
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Phillip Hogan
    Favourite Phillip Hogan
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:22 PM

    Virtually zero difference will be made to the flow of drugs

    169
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Glen
    Favourite Glen
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:40 PM

    I wouldn’t exactly say that it’s still a big haul.

    104
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simon Barnes
    Favourite Simon Barnes
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:44 PM

    it’s not a big haul at all. police only catch around 10% of what comes into a country. it might sound big but the factory that made that batch probably puts that much out a day , and that’s only one factory.

    76
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Glen
    Favourite Glen
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:49 PM

    Simon
    I agree with your comment but it’s still a lot of Charlie.

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute BC
    Favourite BC
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:58 PM

    I hate cocaine dealers…Their always sticking their business in other peoples noses.

    261
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dirk Diggler
    Favourite Dirk Diggler
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 10:12 PM

    Sure is Glen, a million grams. which would be cut into at least 2 million if not more. Nice money if you get away with it. This crew have probebly done this before a few times.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rory Corbett
    Favourite Rory Corbett
    Report
    Sep 26th 2014, 6:44 AM

    Mrs Doyle would make a lot of scones with that!

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Moore
    Favourite Paul Moore
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:25 PM

    And there goes the weekend !!!

    123
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Hannigan
    Favourite Paddy Hannigan
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:46 PM

    Aye! Cancel the hookers ?

    150
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rory Corbett
    Favourite Rory Corbett
    Report
    Sep 26th 2014, 6:46 AM

    Shit gotta cancel the two manky hookers and a racist dwarf.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Byrne
    Favourite Mark Byrne
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 9:10 PM

    I don’t like cocaine but I love the smell of it!

    109
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Seymour
    Favourite Sean Seymour
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:37 PM

    Nose is tingling at the sight of that! nom nom nom nom!

    88
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gav Higgins
    Favourite Gav Higgins
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 8:41 PM

    Ye would help alot of homeless with 80 millions, come on enda, get yer dealing hat on and move this white

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kristina Schroder
    Favourite Kristina Schroder
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:35 PM

    Well done,good job , hope they get more, and keep it off the streets.

    74
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael
    Favourite Michael
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:25 PM

    Yes the Irish boarded the boat. But I do love it when we take the credit for all the work done by other international intelligence agencies.

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eileen Charters
    Favourite Eileen Charters
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:25 PM

    Wow. Someone’s not gonna be Happy over that..

    66
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute DN
    Favourite DN
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 7:23 PM

    Jokes aside, the Navy are very under resourced and we have the largest waters in europe to patrol. What does happen when the Navy arrests a fishing trawler, they tow it to port. When thats being done then all the other fishing vessels go into that area because there arent enough Naval vessels to patrol the waters. This has been highlighted before, and whos to say that this isnt the case with this drug shipment? Nearly the entire fleet is in dock because of asbestos.

    63
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Glass Half Full
    Favourite Glass Half Full
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 8:37 PM

    That’s why the Air Corps are out over the sea every day. The Air Corps maritime aircraft monitor every vessel within our waters, and info the Naval Service on those fishing vessels not Licenced to fish, other vessels suspiciously located etc. It’s almost blanket coverage insofar as two aircraft can cover such a huge area. If anything we need more maritime aircraft!

    The Navy don’t do it on their own you know!

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marc Power
    Favourite Marc Power
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 8:44 PM

    The air corps?…. lol. …. You mean those antiques that make us the laughing stock odd the European military establishment? …

    14
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Carl Dineen
    Favourite Carl Dineen
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 9:34 PM

    Have a look at the equipment the air corps operate. The only antiques are the ones in storage for display.All operational aircraft are up to date machines and the men and women who crew them are some of the best trained anywhere. Hardly their fault that the government won’t spend more on more aircraft. Even if they did people like you would probably bitch about it!

    86
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute darragh murphy
    Favourite darragh murphy
    Report
    Sep 26th 2014, 1:47 AM

    Do you think we should be buying stealth fighters at $100,000,000 a pop, or is the money perhaps better spent elsewhere?

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Durnin
    Favourite David Durnin
    Report
    Sep 26th 2014, 7:23 AM

    Who said anything about stealth fighters Darragh?

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute james redmond
    Favourite james redmond
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 9:48 PM

    A lot of experts on here.

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot O'Reilly
    Favourite Dermot O'Reilly
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 6:38 PM

    Good work.

    The boat should be confiscated and those on board should get 20 years in jail.

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Steven Hillert
    Favourite Steven Hillert
    Report
    Sep 26th 2014, 3:27 AM

    I think you will find the boat will be re sprayed and given to the Ceann Comhairle as a thank you present for all his years of good service.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute skin flint
    Favourite skin flint
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 6:35 PM

    Is that cocaine…or raisins?

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Connolly
    Favourite Michael Connolly
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:33 PM

    It would be nice if it could be used for legitimate medical purposes rather than incinerating.

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cian O Donoghue
    Favourite Cian O Donoghue
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:45 PM

    Does Coke have legitimate medicinal uses?

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Silent Majority
    Favourite Silent Majority
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:51 PM

    Yes, it’s an excellent treatment for anything I can convince my doctor to diagnose me with.

    163
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simon Barnes
    Favourite Simon Barnes
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:54 PM

    Its an anesthetic and vasoconstricting agent, so would have lots of potential for medical use

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bobby Fox
    Favourite Bobby Fox
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:55 PM

    Or sold to the Portuguese who have a logical drugs policy.

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jack News
    Favourite Jack News
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 6:08 PM

    Chances are that it’s mixed with lots of other crap , it wouldn’t be anywhere near 100 percent cocaine so not sure they’d be able to break it back down for medicinal purposes

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Silent Majority
    Favourite Silent Majority
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 6:22 PM

    Would actually be very pure Jack, >75% anyway. It gets cut when it gets to Europe or the US; makes no sense to cut it before delivery as it just increases the mass.

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colleen McGovern
    Favourite Colleen McGovern
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 6:33 PM

    100 Years ago it was used as an anesthetic for root canals and other teeth pain. but now…I don’t understand why people would bother upsetting their heart, mind etc

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Steven Hillert
    Favourite Steven Hillert
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 7:19 PM

    41 bales. ’40′for the dealers and one for the boat owner. And one for the little boy who lives down the lane. Out of his bracket on Bolivian marching power..

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mack
    Favourite Mack
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 5:33 PM

    We’ll have some party with all that.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Blake
    Favourite Stephen Blake
    Report
    Sep 26th 2014, 12:29 AM

    It looks twice the size of a 1/2 Tonne……

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute alpha_chaarlie
    Favourite alpha_chaarlie
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 9:31 PM

    They won’t be smiling like that when the cartels find out where they live and come knocking on their doors looking for their cocaine back.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Charles J. Ahern
    Favourite Charles J. Ahern
    Report
    Sep 26th 2014, 12:02 AM

    Say my name …

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute yeboyyah
    Favourite yeboyyah
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 11:56 PM

    Any chance the boat was a “Galway Hooker” …anyway…Well done lads, that size haul is not to be sniffed at!

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute john ferguson
    Favourite john ferguson
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 6:32 PM

    Nice…

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute CeannComhairleDollop
    Favourite CeannComhairleDollop
    Report
    Sep 26th 2014, 9:44 AM

    Typical Gardai. They’ll milk this drugs haul for all its worth. It will deflect attention from all their other, numerous shortcomings. They should be out protecting the poor souls that install the water meters.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank Donaghy
    Favourite Frank Donaghy
    Report
    Sep 26th 2014, 7:37 AM

    Probably for personal use

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute jack frost
    Favourite jack frost
    Report
    Sep 25th 2014, 6:37 PM

    Lot to sniff at there..

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tsar N Khan
    Favourite Tsar N Khan
    Report
    Sep 26th 2014, 1:09 AM

    Does Owner of this assignment did not pay the custom duty? Why revenue in picture why not polic? I am confused. Somebody help.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keaneland
    Favourite Keaneland
    Report
    Sep 26th 2014, 2:24 AM

    The revenue run the customs coastal drugs watch. If you ever drive around secluded piers around Ireland you’ll see their signs advertising their number in case you see anything suspicious.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gabriele Pelle
    Favourite Gabriele Pelle
    Report
    Sep 26th 2014, 7:29 AM

    But what cocaine… Judge that’s plain flour I wanted to bake a big cake

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds