A fire service chief facing calls to resign over job losses and proposed changes to firefighters’ shifts has accused union members of ‘refusing to engage in the process’.
Councillor David Acton said he was ‘disappointed’ after a vote of no confidence in his leadership was passed by committee members of the Manchester branch of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU).
Coun Acton chairs Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority, which last month voted to agree to axe 253 firefighter posts and seek to bring in a new 12-hour shift system for firefighters from April next year. The union branded the proposed 12-hour shifts ‘family unfriendly’ and said frontline firefighters had ‘lost confidence’ in him.
Gary Keary, brigade secretary of the FBU in Greater Manchester, said: “We are deeply disappointed that Coun Acton has failed to listen to firefighters who have great concerns about the new shift system, especially when we have offered viable alternatives.”
The fire service’s budget has been reduced by central government by £28m since 2010, with cuts worth £14.79m set to be made over the next four years.
Coun Acton however said the union hasn’t engaged with the issue in ‘any meaningful way’ and said all members of fire service staff were invited to suggest start and finish times.
Currently, shift start times in Greater Manchester are at 8.30am and 7pm, with the proposed new shift pattern made up of equal 12-hour shifts between 10.30am and 10.30pm.
Referring to future budget cuts he said: “Let’s be clear – to achieve this the FBU’s proposal of ‘no change’ is not an option.
“We absolutely have to change the shift system to meet our budget, to meet the needs of the community and to match our resources to the demand we face. We have been trying to negotiate with the FBU since January. They have refused to engage in this process in any meaningful way. The decision to implement the new shifts was carried by 27 members across all parties in favour and none against on June 23. It was not something taken lightly by anyone – but we are in unprecedented and challenging times.
“Since then the door has been left completely open for further discussions and offers have been overtly and repeatedly made to the FBU and colleagues across Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service to discuss it further.
“In particular, all staff received an email following the meeting on June 23, offering a discussion and inviting input on start and finish times of the new shifts.
“The letter from the FBU makes reference to their disappointment. I can categorically tell you I feel disappointed. I feel disappointed at the way the FBU have chosen to engage with GMFRS on behalf of its members and I feel disappointed at today’s turn of events, which take us no further in implementing this system or mending it for the good of our firefighters or, indeed, the people we are here to serve in our communities.”
The shift pattern change is part of a raft of measures unveiled in response to central government funding cuts which will also include the job losses. It will mean the brigade, which currently has 1,450 firefighters, will have about 1,000 by 2019. In 1996 it had 2,200.
