Pay row halts fire terror drills
Compo stalemate delays vital training UNIONS AND BOSSES URGED TO NEGOTIATE
Vital anti-terror training for Scotland’s emergency services has been stopped because of a pay row between unions and managers.
Fire crews were due to be given specialist drills in coping with large-scale attacks. But the Fire Brigades Union have told Scottish members they can refuse to take part in the training until increased risk compensation payment has been agreed.
The delay comes as the country’ s terror threat level was raised to severe due to recent UK attacks including the bombing of a London train carriage last week, the Manchester Arena bombing and the London Bridge van attack.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service say they are disappointed with the decision.
In the Marauding Terrorist Fire Arms training, staff were due to be coached in how to deal with blunt-force trauma injuries caused by vehicles and multiple stab wounds from machetes and knives.
They were also to be taughtg how to handle multipleple casualties at once.
The terror trainingng is just one part of the Scottishsh Fire and Rescue Service’s changing strategies for thehe future, which also includeses dealing with severe weather-her-related incidents, risks associ at eds socia ted with an increasinglyngly elderly populationon and the use of defibrillators for or thosesuf fer ingg out- of- hospitall cardiac arrest.
But Denise Christie, regional official for FBU Scotland, said fire chiefs were not prepared to offer the crews any compensation or additional papay for the training. She said: “FBFBU members have a right not to taktake part in any such activities while employers are not prepaprepared to increase membmembers’ pay adequately. “No agreement has been made to provide the required robust an nd guaranteed com po ensat ion papayments in the event of injury or death or enensure that members’ susurvivors are provided wwith an assured adeadequate pension.” She added that they did not want to see increased payment if it meant further cuts to the service, saying: “We have always been open to discussing the wider role of a f irefighter and the recognition package afforded to that.”
But assistant chief officer Lewis Ramsay, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s director of response and resilience, called on the FBU to work with them to find a resolution so training could be resumed as soon as possible.
He said: “We must look at how we can protect Scotland’s communities from the new and emerging risks they now face. It is therefore disappointing that the national FBU have halted these vital trials and other areas of training before exploring the offer we are making to their members in Scotland.
“We ask the FBU in Scotland to now enter into formal negotiations that will deliver outcomes that are not only in the best interests of our f iref ighters but also our communities.
“It is vital that we work constructively towards an effective resolution.”
The Scottish Tories said: “It’s clear both sides need to get round the table, not make unreasonable demands, and sort this out.”