Firefighters launch jobs action

Members of the Fire Brigades Union in Essex started a ban on overtime and rest-day working in protest at a "rolling programme of cuts" leading to fewer firefighters.

The union has also objected to a number of other changes which it says local managers are trying to impose rather than negotiate.

Talks aimed at resolving the row ended without agreement, although the union said there had been an "improved atmosphere."

Local FBU official Keith Flynn said: "Unfortunately, they are still determined to remove 44 frontline firefighters' jobs, but talks will continue."

The union also announced that South Yorkshire firefighters are to ballot on strike action unless their employer withdraws a threat to "sack" them next New Year's Day for refusing to accept changes to their contracts.

A vote for strike action could mean a series of stoppages beginning in early October, the FBU warned.

Regional secretary Ian Murray said: "The employer's threat to sack firefighters in order to impose changes to working duties without negotiation is the tip of the iceberg. Our members know that if management can do this over shift changes, then it can do the same thing whenever it wants changes. So our employment contracts, and our negotiated conditions, become worthless.

"Firefighters are happy and willing to continue working our agreed contracts so as to provide the best possible service to the people of South Yorkshire. But we cannot accept having our agreed contracts of employment ripped up."

It was also announced that firefighters in Merseyside will start voting next week for strikes if a sacked union official is not reinstated.