FIREFIGHTERS in England and Wales are holding a fourth strike on pensions today between 10.00am and 2.00pm.
This follows the decision of the government in Westminster to worsen proposals on firefighter pensions.
Lucy Masoud, FBU Rep Chelsea Fire Station, White Watch, told News Line on Monday: ‘When I joined the Fire Brigade the idea of going on strike was always a very difficult thing to do and is something that I do with a heavy heart.
‘We join the Fire Brigade to help the people and help the public, but with the government policy on pensions we are being pushed into a corner and have no other option.
‘If the government get their way I’ll be expected to work until I’m 60, which will include going into house fires, putting myself in added danger, which as a 60 year-old I shouldn’t be in a position to do.
‘And as with most firefighters I need to think about my own safety and I need to think about my family and being forced to put myself in a very dangerous position at the age of 60, I think it’s a risk too high to take.
‘Although I don’t want to go on strike, I think it is important to do so on this issue because the goverment are not only putting my life at risk, but also the public’s.
‘I would support a national strike of all public sector workers. It seems that it is the public sector workers that are being most hit by the pension changes, and that since this government came to power they’ve used the economic situation as a reason to attack the publc sector, including pensions.
‘I would say that most of my colleagues are of the same view. We were balloted for a strike and with a very high turnout we returned a huge ‘Yes’ vote.
‘On Wednesday we will all all be marching out, White Watch, at 10.00am, King’s Road, Chesea, determined to win, united in our opposition to this government’s policy.’
The fight against the government’s attacks on pensions and retirement age is at a critical stage, said the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) on Monday.
FBU officials across the country have reported that firefighters are keen to campaign in other ways on non-strike days to maximise pressure on the government.
As a result, the FBU’s executive council – which is made up or representatives from across the UK – has decided to hold a vote of members over other forms of action.
This vote will supplement but not replace the current strike ballot, and the FBU is urging members to take part in the ballot and vote ‘Yes’ to provide additional tools for firefighters to use to defend their pensions.
The further ballot for other forms of industrial action will close on Wednesday 4th December.
In a circular to members last Friday, the FBU said: ‘Firefighters in England and Wales have taken strike action but the Executive Council are aware that members are wanting to campaign in other ways on non-strike days to maximise the pressure on government.
‘The Executive Council has discussed this option in detail and has decided that members should be balloted for action short of strike in addition to the ongoing strike action.
‘This will allow other forms of action to be taken. You will shortly receive a ballot paper.
‘The Executive Council has agreed that all members in England, Scotland and Wales will be included in this ballot and that it should also include Control members.
‘One of the fundamental considerations of any action called is to strike the most advantageous balance between maximising its impact on the organisation whilst minimising its hardship on members.
‘All members will recognise the benefits in this regard of discontinuous strike action used in combination with the wide-range of types of action short of strike that may be called.’
The circular added: ‘ “Action short of strike” can involve any collective industrial action which is not strike action. This may include action such as: removal of goodwill; refusal to undertake additional duties or cover for a higher rank/role; refusal to undertake voluntary, non-contractual duties outside of normal hours (which can include bans on non-contractual overtime); etc.
‘l There is a wide-range of action which can be taken. The Executive Council is clear that different action might be called in different Fire Services or national action tailored in particular Brigades to take account of different circumstances. The views of local members via local Brigade Committees will be taken into consideration.
‘l We are aware of the harsh policies which may exist locally regarding “partial performance” or docking of pay. The aim of this action will be to maximise pressure on government not to create any uneven hardship on FBU members. Full account will therefore be taken of local circumstances.
‘We urge you to vote YES in that ballot.’
Cambridgeshire firefighters are ‘livid’ after another senior officer receives double pay-pension pay off.
Responding to reports that Neil Newberry, a senior officer at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, will join Chief Fire Officer Graham Stagg in being allowed to retire and then claim his pension lump sum before returning to work a few weeks later, FBU Cambridgeshire Secretary Cameron Matthews said: ‘Cambridgeshire firefighters are livid with these revelations and the lack of accountability and transparency on show.
‘While we’re fighting tooth-and-nail to protect our pensions, jobs and public safety, the fire authority is awarding such astronomical funds to senior staff in Cambridgeshire.
‘How can we believe government claims the pot is empty when such high sums can be found for senior staff?’
Meanwhile, firefighters have warned that proposed budget cuts of over £4 million will ‘devastate’ fire and rescue services in Mid and West Wales.
The FBU warned that 96-hour shifts and massive reductions in response times likely.
Senior managers at Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service presented the fire authority with a range of options at a meeting last week.
Fire Brigades Union secretary for Mid and West Wales Barrie Davies, who attended the meeting, said: ‘These cuts will put the lives of the public and firefighters at risk.
‘Our service has been cut every year for the last ten years, and yet again it’s the front line which will bear the brunt.
‘The Welsh government must recognise fire services now face a severe funding crisis, and invest in Mid and West Wales to stop the slowing of response times and provide the quality of service that communities in Mid and West Wales deserve.’
The service argues savings are necessary as the Welsh government passes on cuts to local authorities from the comprehensive spending review.
The service is facing £2.6 million of cuts in the next financial year, with another £1.5 million scheduled for the year after.
The options for cuts presented at the meeting were:
• Closing Knighton, Montgomery, Pontyates and Cymmer fire stations with the loss of all four fire engines.
• Closing Pontarddulais and Gorseinon fire stations and replacing them with one new fire station with a loss of one fire engine.
• Removing every full-time firefighter from Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven and Ammanford fire stations and replacing them with part-time cover.
l Downgrading Morriston, Port Talbot and Neath fire stations from 24-hour shift stations to day-crewed stations (causing particular delays at night).
• Changing to the crewing system at Swansea Central and Swansea West fire stations from 24-hour shift stations to a self-rostered crewing arrangement, which could see firefighters working 96-hour shifts.
• Merging Swansea command area with Neath Port Talbot as well as Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion into one, ensuring fewer senior officers available to respond to serious incidents.
Fire authority members also discussed the possibility of removing their ‘no redundancy’ policy.
Senior managers are also considering merging South Wales control room with Mid and West Wales and relocating it to the Bridgend headquarters of South Wales Police.
