Businesses urged to check safety plans ahead of firefighters’ strike

A SENIOR fire officer has urged businesses to “take extra steps” to ensure their safety during the one-day strike by firefighters next week.

The Fire Brigades’ Union (FBU) will stage its first national strike in more than 10 years on Wednesday, with a four-hour stoppage scheduled to begin at noon.

Brigades across the country are making contingencies, with Humberside Fire and Rescue Service putting 52 reserve firefighters on standby, but warning it will only be providing a “reduced emergency response” service.

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Calling on support from businesses, assistant chief fire officer Chris Blacksell said: “While the industrial action is ongoing we will still be responding to 999 calls, but we are asking local businesses to take extra steps to reduce the risk of fire.

“It is imperative that businesses ensure their fire risk assessments are up to date and that safety arrangements are robust enough to ensure, in the event of a fire, everyone can escape the building quickly and easily.”

Firefighters in England and Wales are taking action in a row over pensions, claiming that under the current proposals, firefighters who retire or are forced out of work at 55 would lose about 50 per cent of their pensions.

The union said planned changes to pensions were “unaffordable and unworkable”, would impose an increase in members’ contributions and also put firefighters at greater risk of dismissal without access to a proper pension if they cannot maintain fitness standards as they approach the retirement age of 60.

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FBU general secretary Matt Wrack called the four-hour stoppage “a warning shot to Government”.

Speaking when the strike was announced, the Humberside brigade’s Chief Fire Officer Richard Hannigan said: “We understand how important pensions are to our staff, however the safety of our communities must come first and I am disappointed that members of the union have chosen to take this route.

“We have confidence in our robust plans that will enable us to provide an emergency response service. However, this will be greatly reduced from what we can ordinarily provide and what the public expect.”

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