Firefighters rally Government over “rebuild” of Fire and Rescue Service

On the day, the speakers included Matt Wrack (general secretary of the FBU), ‘rank and file’ firefighters, MPs and international speakers representing firefighters in Greece and Italy.

During 14 years of Conservative rule, asserts the FBU, the Fire and Rescue Service lost one-in-five firefighter jobs and 30% of its central Government funding. Response times rose steadily to their “worst-ever” level.

“Decades of fragmentation” have also created what the FBU describes as “a postcode lottery” on fire cover, with no national standards covering issues such as crewing, response times, equipment and training, etc.

In its General Election Manifesto, the Labour Party promised to re-introduce national standards in the Fire and Rescue Service and to repeal the latest “anti-Trade Union” laws.

Demands from the FBU

The FBU is calling for the following:

*Investment: a boost to funding for the Fire and Rescue Service in order to enable the delivery of a resilient and effective regime

*National standards on issues such as crewing, response times, equipment, training, Health and Safety and equalities

*Workers’ rights: the implementation in full of the New Deal for Working People, including the repeal of the latest anti-Trade Union laws

Following the rally, hundreds of firefighters proceeded to Westminster to lobby their respective MPs.

Firm message to Government

Matt Wrack observed: “This rally sends a firm message to the Government that the Fire and Rescue Service is in crisis. After 14 years of austerity, lives are being put at risk by a lack of proper resources. Climate change will make the situation even worse. Decades of fragmentation have also created a postcode lottery on fire cover. If you call a fire engine now, it’s pot luck as to how many firefighters will be on board or how quickly it will arrive.”

Wrack added: “The solutions to this crisis are neither complicated nor expensive. We need investment to rebuild our Fire and Rescue Service and national standards informed by a statutory advisory body with firefighters at the table. We also look forward to the implementation of the New Deal for Working People, including the repeal of the latest anti-Trade Union laws.”