Bristow Ireland and Fórsa have agreed terms for the transfer of Irish Coast Guard staff with members of the union working at the service having voted for an agreement both parties say will protect existing service and conditions.
The company is to take over the services on a phased basis starting later this year and will operate six AW189 helicopters from bases at Shannon, Sligo, Waterford and Weston as well as a fixed wing service. The value of the 10-year contract signed with the Department of Transport last year has previously been put at €670 million.
The two unions representing staff had expressed concern about their transfer to the new company from CHC Ireland when Bristow advertised a number of positions after winning the contract last year, but an agreement was reached on the issue with Fórsa and the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (IALPA) before Christmas and that has now been endorsed by both sets of members.
Fórsa represents the service’s winch operators while its affiliate, IALPA, represents pilots.
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Bristow will start to take over the service’s operations in the final quarter of this year and all of the existing staff will transfer to the new operator by June 2025 with their current terms and service protected. The company says it will ultimately employ about 150 people.
“We are delighted to have reached this agreement with Fórsa and IALPA, which is an important milestone in the transition process. We are collectively very committed to a successful transition, and we are looking forward to positive ongoing engagement and co-operation. We look forward to the delivery of this critical and life-saving public service for the people of Ireland,” said Bristow’s Neil Ebberson.
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In a message to its members confirming the outcome of the ballot on the agreement, which also includes new procedures for the resolution of disputes, Fórsa’s Katie Morgan said it “represents a positive step forward, following an initially anxious period for everyone working in the Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue service.
“There had been many months of uncertainty about the transfer of our members to a new contractor. This agreement protects our members’ jobs and service through the transition, and a comprehensive set of protections for existing terms and conditions.”
IALPA vice president Daniel Langan said the union was “delighted” to have concluded an agreement with Bristow.
The company said talks are still ongoing with Unite which represents technical staff at the service and that union’s regional officer, Rob Kelly, said he was confident that an agreement will be concluded in the near future.
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