The Government is being accused of mounting a “co-ordinated attack” on the pay and conditions of firefighters.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) criticised the Fire and Rescue White Paper, saying it would weaken the ability to take industrial action. The union said there was a lack of any direct plans or resources to improve the service the public receives, together with plans to boost chief fire officer powers.
FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: “It is absolutely scandalous that the Government has launched this co-ordinated attack on the pay and conditions of hard-working firefighters, and on the fire and rescue service itself. Apparently it is not enough that firefighters, like everyone else, are going through a cost-of-living crisis ultimately of the Government’s making.
“Instead, the Government thinks that now is the right moment to try and strip them of hard-won rights that protect their pay and conditions. We have firefighters struggling to pay bills and pay the mortgage. These changes would only make things worse for them.”
The FBU said the attack on firefighters’ rights to have a say on their terms and conditions comes in the form of a proposed review which will “very likely” consider replacing collective bargaining in the fire and rescue service with a pay review body, a process by which ministers ultimately unilaterally decide pay. Firefighters will lobby MPs next week as part of an FBU campaign.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Firefighter pay in England is the responsibility of the National Joint Council, which consists of representatives from both the employers’ and employees’ side. Central government has no role to play in this process. Firefighters work tirelessly to protect our communities and it is essential they are paid fairly for the important work they undertake. At the same time, any decision on pay must be justifiable to the taxpayer.”
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