Merseyside fire crews may ballot on action
FIREFIGHTERS have turned the heat up on a dispute with bosses over £5m cuts.
The Fire Brigade Union believes cuts to the number of front- line firefighters in Merseyside will impact on how the service responds to 999 calls.
They have given the Fire Authority seven days to reconsider cuts before balloting on industrial action.
They announced their intentions after removing an outstanding threat of strike action regarding the dismissal of a union representative, Kevin Hughes.
This followed an announcement by the Fire Authority that it would honour any employment tribunal decision to re-employ Mr Hughes if it found he was unfairly dismissed.
Les Skarratts, Merseyside FBU brigade secretary, said: "Our ballot is to protect the fire service, all we are doing is responding to attacks on the front- line fire crews which provide that service.
"We’d like the fire authority to reconsider.
"At this stage there is no sign of that and we will therefore have no option but to ballot."
The cuts involve the loss of up to 104 front- line firefighter posts.
Tony McGuirk, Chief Fire Officer, said: On the day the Fire Authority reaches an agreement which removes the threat of strike action, the Fire Brigade’s Union confirms a second ballot for industrial action. "Rather than using industrial action as their first resort, the Union would be far better working with us." to deliver the necessary efficiencies we need to achieve £5 million of savings."
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