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'Firefighters face sack over new shift patterns'
HUNDREDS of South Yorkshire firefighters could be sacked if they do not accept new shifts, the Fire Brigades Union claims.
They today accused fire service bosses of "bully boy tactics" to force them to accept changes to shift times.
A total of 744 frontline firefighters are to be issued with new contracts on January 1 forcing them to work four 12-hour shifts in a row.
And unless they agree to accept them they could be sacked for breaching the terms of their employment.
The Fire Brigades Union today hinted "serious industrial action" will be taken if fire chiefs force through changes, aimed at saving 4 million a year.
Firefighters are already refusing to work overtime in protest at plans to make them work four 12-hour shifts in a row instead of the two nine-hour days and two 15-hour nights they currently work.
Union bosses were sent a redundancy notice by fax yesterday, warning 744 contracts will be terminated on January 1 and new ones immediately issued with details of the new shift system included.
South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service claims the redundancy notice is "a legal technicality" - but if firefighters refuse to accept their new terms and conditions they will be out of a job.
The decision was made in a secret part of a South Yorkshire Fire Authority meeting on Monday, even though chairman Jim Andrews issued a statement immediately afterwards claiming members did not want to see jobs lost or fire stations closed.
Both options have been put forward as possible consequences if the fire service does not make savings.
Outraged union bosses said it is the first time ever that "mass sackings" have been attempted by the fire service nationally.
FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack said: "The voters of South Yorkshire will be appalled at the way this Fire Authority is treating its firefighters. This is the worst kind of bully boy tactics from the worst kind of employer.
"It was cowardly to hold that part of the meeting in secret and keep the debate away from the public.
"There will certainly be a strong response from South Yorkshire firefighters. The Fire Authority has taken the road to serious industrial action by this disgraceful move.
"The Fire Authority has never made a convincing case for the changes they want. It is change for the sake of change which would cause havoc with family life and childcare.
"At every stage the Fire Authority has wanted to impose change rather than negotiate it. This approach has made matters worse and they have now sunk to an all-time low for fire service employers."
Fire Authority chairman Jim Andrews said: "This authority doesn't wish to consider cuts in services, jobs or fire stations.
"We want to continue improving services and these minor changes to working arrangements will enable us to get the most out of what we have got.
"It is difficult to comprehend the FBU's opposition to this minor change of moving three ho urs from the night shift to the day shift."
Fire service bosses say the new shifts would enable more training, fire safety and prevention work.
But the FBU claims it would cause childcare problems.
Firefighters are initially being asked to work 9am- 7.30pm and 9pm-7.30am shifts from January 1, before the four 12-hour shifts are introduced on July 1.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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