Firefighters have condemned today’s decision by Gloucestershire County Council to change crews’ shift patterns, raising the alarm that it could result in firefighters being forced out of the service.
At a meeting today, the county council voted to change the shifts from 9 hour days and 15 hour nights, to 11 hour days and 13 hour nights for wholetime community fire stations.
The Fire Brigades Union is calling for the decision to be withdrawn, citing widespread concerns that the changes will make the job too costly for those with childcare or caring responsibilities, and will take a toll on the mental health of a workforce already under pressure.
The decision was made despite the fire and rescue scrutiny committee chairman calling for changes to be put on hold for the committee to hear objections, after receiving an “unprecedented” 79 emails from firefighters raising concerns.
Kate Yhnell, FBU brigade organiser for Gloucestershire said:
Firefighters in Gloucestershire have made it loud and clear that changing our working hours in this way will take a drastic toll on the workforce. Instead of listening to the frontline, the county and fire chief have decided to force through the changes.
A high number of parents will face being forced out of the service, unable to afford the increased cost of childcare to cover longer shifts. Primary carers, who are more likely to be women, will be hit hardest. This is a further kick in the teeth since Gloucestershire has the lowest maternity pay in the UK despite having one of the highest percentages of women in the service.
There are also serious mental health implications. Firefighters are already working under pressure without enough resources, responding to traumatic incidents. The last thing we need is the threat of increased isolation, stress and fatigue.
Frontline firefighters have risen to many challenges in recent years, and welcome investigations into changes to improve the service and safety. The county council must listen to firefighters and reverse this decision immediately.”
Val Hampshire, Fire Brigades Union executive council member for the South West said:
To protect the public, firefighters must be supported at work. These shift pattern changes put firefighters’ well-being at risk and will lead to many questioning whether they can afford to stay in a job they love.
It is shameful that instead of catching up with neighbouring services by offering policies that support women, such as 52 weeks maternity pay or a menopause policy, Gloucestershire employers are choosing to penalise those with caring responsibilities.
Firefighters are rightly furious at this decision being pushed through with zero consultation or assessment of the impact. The FBU will fight this until these plans have been withdrawn.”
Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary said:
Fire service employers should be doing everything in their power to recruit and support women in the fire and rescue service.
Policies that put an increased strain and financial burden on primary carers will only deepen inequalities in the fire service.
Gloucestershire County Council must scrap this ill-conceived change to shift patterns."
