West Yorkshire fire crews set for more strike action

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Fire Officer Steve Rhodes

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Steve Rhodes said: “The series of strike dates the Fire Brigades Union has now announced is a second run of eight days of strikes which are similar in nature to the previous industrial action ending on July 21.

“This new series follows quickly on from the recent action and forms a pattern once again of short but frequent periods, with a two hour strike followed by a one hour period on each of the eight days.

“Contingency arrangements will be put in place to ensure the best fire cover possible is provided to the community of West Yorkshire.

“Providing fire cover continues to challenge West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s ability to deliver a speedy response to the range of emergencies that may occur during the periods of industrial action.

“Community safety is of the utmost importance in our contingency planning. We are working hard to ensure that our prevention, protection and response aspects of service delivery combine to ensure the best level of community safety.

“I would like to reiterate the importance that both the Minister and the Fire Brigades Union seek to resolve this dispute at the earliest opportunity to enable us to return to our normal levels of service.”

The follow periods of strike action have been announced:

August 9 from 12am until 2pm then from 10.59pm hours until 11.59pm.

August 10 from 12am until 2pm and then 10.59pm 11.59pm.

August 11 from 12am until 2pm and then 10.59pm 11.59pm.

August 12 from 12am until 2pm and then 10.59pm 11.59pm.

August 13 from 12am until 2pm and then 10.59pm 11.59pm.

August 14 from 12am until 2pm and then 10.59pm 11.59pm.

August 15 from 12am until 2pm and then 10.59pm 11.59pm.

August 16 from 12am until 2pm and then 10.59pm 11.59pm.

Action short of strike action is also due to take place intermittently between hours of strike.

The FBU and Government are in dispute over its public sector pension reform programme, in particular proposals to introduce a new Firefighters’ Pension Scheme from April 2015 to replace the two current schemes which most operational personnel are members of.