Playing with fire? Fire Brigade Union hits back over shift change

Published: 23 September, 2010
by DAN CARRIER

THE London Fire Brigade was accused yesterday (Wednesday) of putting people’s lives at risk by threatening their staff with the sack unless they agree to new shift changes.

The Fire Brigade Union have balloted their members over withdrawing “goodwill” working practices – where members cover staff shortages – from Friday after managers told firefighters: accept new rules or we’ll sack you.

According to the FBU, Euston fire station, which covers vital transport hubs at Euston, King’s Cross and St Pancras, ground to a halt yesterday with engines sitting idle after staff said they would only do the work they are contracted to do.

FBU spokesman Ben Sprung, based at Kentish Town, said: “We have been threatened with dismissal if we do not agree to new shifts, which we believe will mean worse working conditions and a worse service for London.”

But the Fire Brigade say new shifts will make the service more efficient, and added the lack of cover at Euston on Wednesday did not put lives in danger. A spokesman said: “The brigade plans its fire cover to meet the needs of London as a whole. If for any reason, staff or appliances in a particular area are unavailable it is brigade practice to reallocate resources between stations to make sure we have strategic cover across the capital.

“It is not unusual for staff and appliances at a fire station to be unavailable because they are at an incident, carrying out community safety work or off-station training. When this happens, fire cover is provided by neighbouring fire stations.”