Chiefs drop threat to dismiss all fire crews
FIRE chiefs have dropped their threat sack all uniformed staff in Greater Manchester.
As revealed in the Express last week, management put all 1017 firemen and women on notice that they could be made to reapply for their jobs.
It was to be used as a ‘last resort’ in a dispute over a new shift system.
Over 20,000 people signed a petition started up against the mass dismissals.
And now managers have withdrawn the notice and the Fire Brigades Union has agreed to talks with an independent body to try and resolve the dispute.
Bosses and the FBU will attend crunch talks with the Technical Advisory Panel tomorrow (Thursday) to find a way of moving forward.
Councillor David Acton, chair of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “Following contact with the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), I have today agreed to withdraw the Section 188 letter issued to the FBU.
“I have taken this step in order to facilitate talks through the Independent Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) on Thursday, September 29, 2016.
“The FBU has confirmed that it will participate fully in the TAP and both parties are entering the talks constructively.
“This is a welcome move that will allow both parties to engage in discussions about our SDS proposals without the threat of action by either party.
“The TAP will publish its report within 14 days. We must not forget that these changes have been proposed because of continuing cuts by the government and the government has imposed a further cut of £14.4m over the next four years.
“Both GMFRA and the FBU are committed to ensuring the safety of the public.”
In June the GM Fire Authority agreed to axe 253 firefighter posts and to bring in a 12-hour shift system from April next year.
But many firefighters have threatened to walk out if this goes ahead, claiming it would place too much pressure on staff, and crews have been described as ‘very angry’.
In total, the brigade has had to make cuts of £14.8m over four years.
It will mean the service will have 1,000 firefighters by 2019 - less than half the 2,200 workforce it had in 1996.