Fire service overhaul hits jobs
Fire service crews up and down the country are considering their options this morning after some of the ramifications of the Government’s “radical” review of the emergency service became known.
Some may reflect that strike action is necessary.
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott published the White Paper yesterday, which maps out how the fire service could be improved.
Mr. Prescott placed safety and fire prevention at the heart of new plans to tackle emergencies.
He wants to see the fire and rescue services preventing more fires and responding faster and more effectively to emergencies.
The Fire Service will be renamed to The Fire and Rescue Service in order to reflect its broader role.
Improvement may come at a price.
‘Current arrangements for managing the fire service are confused and inefficient. There are too many small fire authorities that cannot generate economies of scale,’ Mr. Prescott said.
Though firefighters will receive their 16% pay deal, it is feared that about 6,000 jobs could go in the service over the next few years under the new modernisation regime.
Speculation that 10,000 jobs could go was quickly squashed by the Deputy PM. Such a figure was part of a “scare” story, he said.
The Paper builds on the recommendations of Sir John Bain’s review, prompted in part by the long-drawn out strike by fire crews, frustrated over pay and conditions.
None of the job loses will be compulsory, Mr. Prescott said.
It is forecasted 1,500 firefighters will leave the service through natural wastage over the next three years. A further 2,500 could follow.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said it would reflect seriously on the Government’s proposals before responding:
A statement read: “The FBU will not be making any knee-jerk response in the press to the government’s proposals and will therefore be making a considered response in due course.”
And the FBU’s chief Andy Gilchrist urged Mr. Prescott to remain in touch with the concerns of rank and file firefighters:
“Those who want to see genuine change in modernisation know that it cannot be based on the jaundiced mythology which grew during the pay dispute,” he said.
