Firefighters will address a meeting of the county council’s fire scrutiny panel this Friday 7 March, calling on councillors to recommend that Gloucestershire fire and rescue service drops plans to change shift patterns.
The Fire Brigades Union has warned that changing day shifts from 8am to 7pm instead of 9am to 6pm for wholetime (full time) firefighters risks forcing many firefighters out of the service.
In letters to councillors, over 70 firefighters from across Gloucestershire have raised concerns that the imposed changes to working hours will increase childcare and caring costs for firefighters already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
Ten frontline firefighters have been invited to address the meeting of the scrutiny panel and Gloucestershire fire and rescue service’s chief fire officer. The fire scrutiny panel comprises of county councillors, who have the power to recommend against this change.
FBU officials say that the county council will be punishing women in the service instead of supporting them, while the change in working hours will have a detrimental impact on firefighter and public safety.
Kate Yhnell, Fire Brigades Union brigade organiser for Gloucestershire said:
Gloucestershire firefighters are urging all members of the county council fire scrutiny committee to recommend against disastrous changes to working hours tomorrow.”
Forcing firefighters to work eleven hour shifts will only pile unnecessary pressure on the frontline. We are raising the alarm that exhausting the workforce and pushing many firefighters out of the service will create an avoidable staffing crisis, risking public safety.”
Gloucestershire fire and rescue service should be supporting women and those with caring responsibilities, not punishing them with this additional financial and mental burden.”
To avoid potential industrial action, Gloucestershire county council must start listening to firefighters and reverse this decision.”
Dave Roberts, Fire Brigades Union regional secretary said:
Gloucestershire county council fire scrutiny panel stated that the decision was properly consulted on, but firefighters feel they have not been given a genuine opportunity to voice their concerns.”
This policy is being imposed with little regard for its consequences, and it is unacceptable that Gloucestershire fire and rescue service are proceeding against the wishes of those on the frontline.”
