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London fire chiefs today told why they have signed up 700 reserve firefighters in a £9million deal with a private company.
It comes amid fears that the emergency services will be badly hit by staff falling ill with swine flu.
The London Fire Authority has signed a five-year contract with Asset Co which will provide 27 fire engines. The reserve force, made up of volunteers and former firemen, can also be called upon for major incidents such as a terrorist attack.
The London Fire Brigades Union attacked the move, saying the cash would be better spent on new engines and extra firefighters.
A spokesman said: "Instead of spending money on a scab force, they should get round the table and try to resolve industrial disputes in a proper way." The London FBU will ballot its members for industrial action on Saturday over a a new drug and alcohol policy and subsistence claims.
A spokesman for the London Fire Authority said it had "both a legal duty and a moral responsibility to provide a fire and rescue service," adding: "In the past, the brigade has been able to turn to the armed forces to provide a level of service when its firefighters are unable to do so.
"This is no longer the case and the brigade is now making other arrangements to ensure the safety of London's residents, visitors and buildings should such circumstances occur."
Reader views (13)
My husband is one of the so called scabs.. so let me put this to you.... when the fire service go on strike and these reserve guys turn up and save someone dear to you...how will you feel about them then?
- Anon, paisley, Scotland, 30/09/2009 11:08
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Readers should understand that the LFB Managers have been required since 2004 to provide this sort of cover. THEY HAVE NOT. The LFB managers have only taken this step now, in order to threaten it's workforce. The LFB Management is pushing it's workforce towards changes that will result in a reduced fire cover for London. At a time when deaths by fire are on the increase they seek to reduce fire appliances at night.Do not be fooled by false promises that this will not happen.London Firefighters and the people of London are facing an attack on a service level that has kept them safe for many years. When you speak to your MP find out if you house will continue to be protected by the closest fire station or will it be closed at night.
- Nomis, London UK, 30/09/2009 10:08
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The bigger picture is that someone in power wants to force a national strike in the fire service.
These idiots are playing a dangerous game with peoples lives....
I think closer inspection of these powerful people will show ludicrous bonuses & expenses with extortionate pensions...yet they want to cut at the sharp end of the public services... Why not get rid of some of the overpaid clowns who run the show!!
- Donkey, Barnsley, 30/09/2009 10:08
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Well here we go, this is the management of London Fire brigade trying to pull the wool over Londoners eyes by saying that the "emergency cover" is in case of a flu pandemic or similar. Everyone in the Brigade in London knows its actually because they face impending industrial action over proposed shift changes on the operational side (only) of their workforce.A change to 12 hour shifts will open up the opportunity for them to cut fire cover at night. Ok so maybe that dosent seem a big deal to the general public, well, not until they need us that is, ask anyone who has been unfortunate enough to call upon our services, 5 mins seems like a lifetime, wait and see how long 15mins seems.
- Sam, London, 30/09/2009 10:08
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I read yet another article , on some reason to spend council tax payers money on a seemingly genuine scheme , for resiliance in the fire service , when really all it is , is the management gearing themselves up for a further attack on frontline services.
When they should be investing the £9 million in maintaining the London Fire Brigade to the standard that the residents deserve ie bringing watches up to the proper strength,ensuring all posts filled , then if there was a "swine flu attack " the shortfalls could be met in house .
As off course the "reserve firefighters " would be totaly free from the dangers of the attack or any other pandemic that might strike down the "entire" workforce!!!
As regards to the RDS firefighter ,i work in a county fire and rescue service with a large amount of RDS personnell and we all work well together , the service nationaly does not need the negativity, which only breeds resentment between RDS and Wholetime.
Having read all the comments , i'm not completely convinced that Asset Co are the right company for this ill conceived idea.
- Keith, Bordon , UK, 30/09/2009 10:08
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Why should fire be the only service to have a back up like this? What of the police or health service? The fire service is run on strange policies, just have a look at the safety plan for London. Recently we have been told that they will not attack fires above the 9th floor referring to a structural solution based on staying in your apartment until it just goes out naturally if they can't reach it by internal means (as sometimes they can't). I would suggest anyone living above the 9th floor or indeed in a hotel to look to your own salvation
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, Surrey, 30/09/2009 10:08
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Its with amazement that the FBU still moan and groan and make threats of industrial action here in London and all up and down the country.
The fact is most of its members have brains and realise that the country is in the ''you no what''and we all have to tighten our belts,LFB has no retained stations for various reasons but the fact is one third of its stations only warrant to be retained with the amount of calls they attend some stations going on less than 300 calls a year shared between 4 shifts costing 1 million pounds a year to run is that best value?
So no more Army if the FBU decide to drag the braziers round the front of fire stations but they better be confident there members will be stood around them as MOST will come to work because they need the money.
We will wait and see.
And by the way theres a rumour that 300 of there retired members have put them names down to be part of the ''so caled scab force''
- Rds Forever, UK, 30/09/2009 10:08
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I accept the Fire authority have a legal duty to ensure fire cover in case of industrial dispute.
On the other hand they seem determined to bring about a dispute with their workforce, by bringing in 12 hour shifts against the wishes of 99% of the firefighters.
The Authority claim it is to allow them to conform to the European Working Time directive,even though emergency services are not required to.
Firefighters know the real reason for this rush to a 12 hour shift is to enable fire cover to be CUT at night.
The increase in length of the day shift means that the drivers of Fire engines will exceed the maximum permitted hours for drivers of Large goods Vehicles every day.
Although the Fire authority has an opt out for this legislation as well,I believe that any change will only increase the number of accidents that Brigade vehicles are involved in.
- Massey, Southwark UK, 30/09/2009 10:08
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I am a London firefighter of 24 years experience and I am angry that £9 million has been spent on organising a alternative workforce.
That money should have been spent on improving equipment and increasing resources that are used everyday for benefit the of Londoners.For instance, only 2 breathing apparatus sets per fire engine have radios. My station has a specialist appliance that can go all over the UK but has no Sat Nav and is crewed by just one firefighter, apparently there is 'no money', for more firefighters.
The most important resource that money can be spent on is firefighters. £9m could have employed more firefighters so we could be released for training without fire cover and fire engine availability being affected. Currently our fire engines are always crewed by the minimum number of firefighters allowed. Frequently fire engines are not available for 999 calls because there are not enough firefighters.
For the past 3 years we have been facing the prospect of management imposing 12 hour shifts on us. 99% of us want no change to our shifts. Those of us that actually work the shifts and do the job know the current system works. Firefighters know what the agenda is - management want to force us onto 12 hour shifts so they can reduce night time fire cover.
We are angered that our knowledge and experience is ignored.
I am saddened that once again I will have to fight ignorance to defend Londoners safety.
- Linda, Brixton, London, 30/09/2009 10:08
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Surely this is the way forward! If only TFL would follow the lead and set up a reserve of tube to break the RMT!
- Adam, London, E14, 30/09/2009 10:08
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Why doesn't Transport for London now do the same with tube drivers. TfL should train Londoners to be tube drivers and when underground drivers go on strike, it really won't matter because the reservists can drive the tube trains. This is a great idea.
- Anthony, London, 30/09/2009 10:08
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I have lifted the following text from Adam Bienkov's torytroll blog
"The London Fire Authority have awarded a £12 million contract to a company that lavished hospitality on it's Chairman Brian Coleman.
Asset Co and it's chief Executive Mr. John Shannon took Brian Coleman to dinner on three separate occasions.
On a fourth occasion, Brian Coleman accepted a Harvey Nichols hamper from Mr Shannon at an estimated value of £350".
Are these really the actions of an honest civil servant?
Why would the leader of the Fire authority need to meet with representatives of a company bidding for yet another lucrative contract with the Fire Brigade?
This strikes me as a clear conflict of interest.
What will be done about this ?
Will Brian 'teflon' Coleman be allowed to carry on as usual?
- Massey, Southwark UK, 30/09/2009 10:08
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The fact that i have been told Assett Co cannot even supply London Fire Service with proper working spare appliances (frequently the radio or some other fault is apparent) when their original front line one's break down smacks of firstly - where are the decent machines ? and secondly why do london firefighter put up with driving this junk ?
- Gary, London, 30/09/2009 10:08
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