Jobs set to go as 20 per cent pay rise put to firefighters
● Terrorism part of responsibilities ● Deal to go before union next week
Firefighters in Scotland are reportedly set to be offered a pay rise of up to 20 per cent if they agree to take on new responsibilities, including tackling terrorism.
The offer is set to be made as part of plans to expand the role of firefighters, according to the BBC. Between 200 and 300 jobs could be cut across the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) under the deal.
Firefighters would also be asked to take charge in other key areas such as providing emergency medical care.
Staff are yet to be officially presented with the offer. which is due to be discussed by the Scottish and UK Fire Brigade Union next week.
A Scottish Government spokesman said the SFRS had made clear there would be no compulsory redundancies as part of the plans.
He said: “Operational decisions on the allocation of resources are a matter for the SFRS board and chief officer, who have been exploring for some time now how best to develop the service to meet new and emerging risks, includinghowtransformation could see SFRS do more for the people of Scotland.
“The process involves liaison with staff, partners and the public. The SFRS has indicated that their proposed reward package would be for a new, expanded role for firefighters, which, of course, is still to be negotiated and agreed with
0 Scotland’s firefighters are in line for a pay boost – and a possible expanded workload unions.” The spokesman said the government had provided extra funding for the fire service.
“Much progress has been made through fire reform, improving outcomes and access to specialist facilities while protecting frontline services and keeping people safe,” he added.
“In the draft budget, we have increased spending capacity of SFRS by £15.5 million for 2018-19, providing £5.5m extra and ensuring they keep £10m in full from VAT costs, to invest in transformation plans.this is on top of the £21.7m increase in the operational budget for the fire and rescue service this year to support investment in equipment and resources.”
Scottish firefighters have already experienced recent organisational upheaval. The country’s eight regional fire services were merged into a single service almost five years ago.
SFRS board chair Dr Kirsty Darwent said: “This service has set out very clearly how it needs to transform to meet the significant new and emerging risks that Scotland now faces, such as severe weatherrelated flooding and terror attack.
“We are offering to pay our firefighters more, but we are asking them to do a lot more, by taking on a completely new role to enhance the safety of the communities they serve.
“This is a proposal. We will now enter into formal negotiations with staff and unions and believe we can reach the right outcome for our firefighters and the people of Scotland.” One of Scotland’s leading entrepreneurs has warned Scots firms face an “uneven playing field” against European competitors – even here in Scotland – over of a lack of government support.
Jim Mccoll says other EU nations back their firms through national investment banks – and fears that plans for a Scottish equivalent may be “half-cooked”.
Scotland has the poorest economic growth among major developed countries, new figures at the weekend suggested. MSPS are conducting an inquiry into the country’s economic performance.
Mr Mccoll, who owns the Ferguson Shipyard in Port Glasgow, warned firms need more support. The entrepreneur said one of his companies made a bid to carry out work at the 2008 London Olympics on the city’s sewer system, adding: “We bid for that contract and we were very close in price, but it was awarded to a German company. And it was awarded because the German company had more financial support, again from KFW their national bank.
“Can you imagine the Olympics Games being held in Frankfurt and the Germans giving the contract for the infrastructure to a British company?”