FIREFIGHTERS across Redditch have called on their bosses to ditch controversial changes to how they work by August 9 or face the prospect of strike action.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has lodged a trade dispute, criticising ‘confrontational’ management for imposing new duty systems and contracts without meaningful consultation.
FBU chiefs claim Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) management have forced firefighters to perform managerial and supervisory duties outside of their contract, while new recruits have been placed on new contracts without discussion with the union.
Sides have clashed a number of times over the imposition of a 10-hour day shift system. After ignoring recommendations from a Technical Advisory Panel, the service gave the FBU a single day’s notice before imposing the controversial shift system.
Andrew Scattergood, FBU West Midlands regional secretary, said: “From the start, we’ve been reasonable and open to discussion, but we’ve had no reciprocal response from management, despite assurances discussions would be conducted in good faith.”
An HWFRS spokesman said: “We have been trying to change systems for the last three years to allow more firefighters to be available to crew fire engines but this has been consistently rejected by the FBU.”
