The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has announced that West Midlands firefighters and emergency control operators will be balloted next week for strike action in an escalating row over the imposition of new contracts.
Contracts introduced by West Midlands Fire Authority mean new firefighters entering the service will have to take on work outside the agreed role of a firefighter. The contracts would allow the employer to unilaterally change the work of firefighters at any time breaching nationally negotiated agreements with the union. The FBU has demanded the contracts be withdrawn immediately.
Andrew Scattergood, chair of the FBU in the West Midlands, said: “The new contracts give management an unhealthy amount of power to dictate the work firefighters do. The so-called ‘Labour led’ fire authority is creating a two-tier workforce between those who are contracted to do any work and those who have contracts that the public would expect a firefighter to have. It is a classic divide and conquer strategy.
“Firefighters are not only angry at the contracts being issued, they are gravely concerned about the management culture where staff are routinely ignored and their concerns dismissed. Our members do not want to take industrial action but they cannot and will not accept a two-tier workforce. It is not the right of management to change contracts on a whim.”
West Midlands Fire Service has released the following statement: “We are disappointed by Fire Brigades Union (FBU) plans for a ballot that could lead to industrial action.
We reaffirm our commitment to reaching a resolution through continued discussions and consultation.”
Phil Loach, West Midlands Fire Service Chief Fire Officer, said: “I am disappointed by the announcement of a ballot by the FBU. However, I am very hopeful that we will be able to arrive at joint solutions and I want to continue working with the FBU to resolve these issues and avoid industrial action.”
