Firefighters vote for strike action
UNION IS URGING BOSSES TO ‘BIN DISGRACEFUL CONTRACTS’
FIREFIGHTERS in the West Midlands are set to strike, having voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking action against contracts given to new entrants into the service.
Results of the ballot reveal that 860 members of the Fire Brigade Union voted in favour of striking, compared to 93 who voted against industrial action.
It comes after plans to impose new contracts on new entrants into the fire service were announced – which the FBU strongly opposed.
As part of the new contracts, new recruits would have to carry out work in any role that the service signs them up to – including taking people released from hospital back home.
And union bosses previously slammed this approach, saying claiming that they posed a “threat to firefighters in the West Midlands”.
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “This is an overwhelming result. It shows the huge strength of feeling among firefighters and emergency control staff in the West Midlands.
“It is time to wipe the slate clean and bin these disgraceful contracts right now.
“Now is the time for the chief fire officer and politicians on the fire authority to listen to their firefighters.”
Andrew Scattergood, chair of the FBU in the West Midlands, said: “Our members have made it clear that these contracts are completely unacceptable and should be withdrawn. Firefighters do not vote for strike action easily.
“There is an overwhelming strength of feeling that these contracts are bad for the fire service, firefighters and the public they serve.
“We have a mandate to take strike action and we will do if these contracts are not removed.” New entrants into the fire service are now expected to take on any work that the service dictates, outside the agreed role of a firefighter.
Previously, West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) have said that the new contracts come as the role of a firefighter has evolved .
They also confirmed that these new contracts have only been issued to new entrants.
On the WMFS webpage for their health work contracts, the reasoning behind them is explained.
It says: “The money we get from the Government dropped by £28m between 2011/12 and 2015/16. We’re expecting further cuts of £10m by 2020.
“Our health-related work is key to being able to continue providing our world-class 999 response services.
“We’ve got 1,220 ‘wholetime’ firefighters who work on 38 fire stations housing 41 fire engines and 19 4x4 Brigade Response Vehicles. “And we’re still able to attract and recruit new firefighters while other fire and rescue services have, unfortunately, been unable to take on new staff because of financial constraints.
“We’re continually assessing risks across the West Midlands, and use this analysis to decide where to locate our resources. It’s what enables us to provide our current average response time of just 4 minutes 42 seconds when life, property or businesses are in danger.
“This new approach to generating income was favourably supported by the public in widely-publicised consultation carried out in 2016/17.
“We’re determined to do all we can to protect our frontline, as well as keep delivering wide-ranging prevention and protection work to our communities and businesses.”
At this time, details of the strike have not been revealed.
It is unclear as to how much of an impact this will have on Coventry.
Previously, Warwickshire has had to rely on Green Goddesses – 1950s armed forces fire engines used as response units during periods of strike action.
A West Midlands Fire Service spokesman said: “We have received formal notification from the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) of the outcome of their recent ballot for industrial action.
“We acknowledge the result of this ballot and over the coming days we will be assessing the situation.
“We remain committed to continuing discussions with the FBU as we seek to find a negotiated resolution whilst providing the best possible service to the communities of the West Midlands.”
Now is the time for the chief fire officer and politicians on the fire authority to listen to their firefighters. Matt Wrack, FBU