Fire services across the country have been warning people to take extra care on Wednesday 25 September, in order to ensure that the limited fire cover will not be stretched beyond capacity. Local authorities have a legal responsibility to provide fire cover, even during a strike of Fire Brigades Union (FBU) members, and a number of people are being provided by contractors to provide cover. However, fire brigades are stressing that this cover will not replicate the usual level of service they provide.
The strike has been called following a dispute relating to retirement age. Under the government’s proposals, firefighters would have to work until the age of 60 in order to receive a full pension entitlement, but there is a real concern that firefighters who work on the front line into their late 50s could be putting their lives at risk, as well as those of the public. FBU general secretary, Matt Wrack, said last week:
It is ludicrous to expect firefighters to fight fires and rescue families in their late-50s: the lives of the general public and firefighters themselves will be endangered.
A recent government study was also referred to, which found that half of current firefighters between 50-54 are no longer able to meet the fitness standard required, with this figure rising to two thirds for those 55 and over.
FBU members were balloted on strike action from 18 July to 29 August, and around 78 percent voted in favour.
Fire services will each be employing their own strategy, but London Fire Brigade is a typical example of the types of advice being offered. Members of the public were advised that firefighters may not be able to attend any of the following incidents:
Firefighters in the capital went on strike in 2010, so London’s plans are likely to be among the best prepared. The majority of the other 45 fire services in England and three in Wales will not have been on strike since 2002/3 when disputes across the country saw so-called “green goddesses” manned by armed forces on the streets. These have since been sold off by the MoD and armed forces will only be called upon in the event of a major incident, according to BBC reports.
In other developments:
There are still hopes that the government and FBU could be able to come to a last-minute agreement, however, this looks unlikely, and businesses and homeowners are advised to check smoke detectors and take extra care throughout Wednesday.
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This situation is terrible but I can understand where they are coming from. I am sure watching the bar for retirement age getting pushed up higher when many were close to or even planning for retirement would be enough to get anybody to strike. Now not to pick a fight or anything because I have met plenty of 60 year old men that could keep pace with a man in his 20’s but given the constant stress and the risk factors involved it begins tempting fate that these men will even reach retirement continuing at a job like this that… Read more »
All fire services across the country seem to be well prepared for taking on the country during strike, but cover services are cover services in the end; they can’t match the regular services. With so much being said about security to prevent terrorist events, do such strikes not provide the terrorists with an incentive as they can enhance the wreckage resulting from their actions in such times?
@ JonathanL, Yes it is like tempting fate sending men in their 50’s to fight fires on the front line. But government must have her own reasons for doing so. Whatever may be the reasons and whatsoever may be the concerns of firefighters, both of them should have sorted them out amicably and prevented it from coming to strike. I could never understand how demands are met after strikes if they were so not acceptable.
Mm, well I think it could be fair to say that firefighters are going to be at higher risk into their late 50s if they’re on the front line. The Government argument is that there is enough opportunities for redeployment within the service away from the front line, but are there?
Is this the issue they are striking about? I’m confused. reading and listening to the BBC coverage seems to indicate that: – The union is making the dispute about their ageing members – The Government retort is that fitness for work is an issue for local fire authorities. instead they claim the dispute is about the money on offer, which they are at pains to stress is very generous Are the unions scaremongering? or is the Government sidestepping? Is the union’s point that more of their members are now in the over 50s bracket, which is increasing risk to the… Read more »
I suppose it’s a question of how you deploy the resource in accordance to its abilities in what is a physically challenging job. As a civilian and not privy to fire service fitness requirements, I would at the very least expect a professional firefighter to be relatively fit enough for his or her age range to carry out their duties- not least to protect themselves from injury. The question seems to be a dispute over a universal approach to a physically intensive job which is ludicrous. Surely all parties should establish a required level of fitness relative to all age groups and apply… Read more »
I agree Gerry, you would think in situations like this they could find away to keep on these more experienced fighter fighters but place them in a position where the physical stress would not be as great perhaps in some supervisory role where they can be more of a guiding hand.
Cheers Jonathan. As Clint Eastwood famously said: ”A man’s gotta know his limitations”. Seems highly appropriate here!
True. As is always the way with these things, it’s the side that wins the PR was that invariably wins the dispute.
But when fire authorities are making cuts, back room staff are the first to go. Are there enough jobs for firefighters unable to meet the fitness standard? Should fire authorities be under more of an obligation to find such jobs?
…well Rob they could reintroduce fire safety certificates and get the inspectors back. Just a thought!
Hah, yes, these discussions go in circles don’t they? Clearly that will solve all of the problems surrounding UK fire safety!!
Here are a few points to consider regards this. ( this may turn into a rant) 1. The dispute is centered around changes to pensions and conditions attached to those pensions. 2. The Fire-fighters pension scheme (FPS) was changed in 2006 to the New Firefighters Pension Sceme (NFPS) for new entrants due to the need for reform and a new Normal Pension Age (NPA) of 60 was implemented for that scheme by government despite opposition from the FBU 3. Despite this pension reform, the government are now looking to change to terms and conditions of the FPS members including the implementation of the… Read more »
David.
strongly-put points there.
One question on point 3: so firefighters who started pension schemes prior to 2006 now have sign up to the NFPS terms & conditions around Normal Pension Age? is this th enub of the problem from your perspective?
I can understand the frustration about how you and other public servants can tend to get stereotyped in these disputes.
I don’t know David, from the bulk of the coverage I’ve seen across the media public support is currently with the firefighters on this issue. There is a degree of ‘if I don’t get it, no one should’ of course, but that’s human nature and I think still a relative minority. Thanks for the great comment though, you certainly deal with the core issues really well.
I think people on the older deal remain on the original scheme, and can retire at 55. Could be wrong, it’s not straightforward necessarily.
Phil There is an element of protection for some existing members. at April 1st 2012 when the government implemented the changes, all those who were in the last ten years of their normal service would remain unchanged. Others who weren’t had some ‘tapered protection’ which meant they stayed in the FPS for an extended period but still revert into the new scheme at some point. That means that regardless of when they enter the new scheme…their pension age automatically becomes 60. I’m obviously a member of the service and I’ll give you my scenario…I joined at 20, I’m 40 next… Read more »
Sorry that should say complete ’20’ years in february 2014…not 40
Collective bargaining always strikes a nerve especially with those of us who are on their own and don’t have a union or trade association to back them up. That’s not to say you don’t have the right to be taken care of per the terms of the contract you joined under but there will always be a bit of a disconnect there. I will say that after doing some reading I think this is probably one of the better thought out methods of protest and organizing strikes. Obviously you don’t want the city burning down around you and the plan… Read more »
I was gonna say!
You must have seen a lot of changes and threats to the fire service in those 20 years, I’m sure. I think you’re right that there’s a huge degree of most people (thankfully) not ever seeing what the fire service do first hand which contributes to their understanding of this issue. I do wish you and your colleagues luck in this dispute, but equally I wonder how strong the Government’s resolve might be. They’ve been extremely rigid when it comes to reacting to protest thus far in their tenure.
Hear hear. Pretty much as minimal as the disruption could have been reasonably but it still made the point very clear and has had a lot of coverage. It will however be interesting to see what level the next strike could be, if there is one. I sincerely hope the dispute is resolved before the week of Bonfire Night in November.
I know that public reaction is usually mixed when it comes to government employees going on strike. Many of us don’t have any pension plan to worry about fighting for so we get a bit bitter when we see these issues come up. To me it’s a job that not everyone is cut out to do so if a better pension plan is what it takes to keep the public safe then I’m all for defending the contracts that were signed.
This financial climate has affected lots of people, their pensions and their retirement. The fire fighters are no exception. The Doctors and Nurses in hospital A & E depts are saving lives on a daily basis and they have had worsening conditions inficted on them. They put their commitment to the patients safety first never mind striking. Having served for 29 years in the service and now been out of it for 12+ years I have a good knowledge in both the Public & Private sectors. I feel that their is one very important thing missing from the Fire Service. They… Read more »