Sunday 5 February 2012
Published: 01/09/2010 09:00 - Updated: 01/09/2010 12:30

Essex fire service chiefs clash with union leaders

By Web Reporter
AN angry war of words has erupted between trades unions and fire chiefs in Essex as budget cuts loom on the horizon.
 
Essex FireThe Essex branch of the Fire Brigades Union and Unison issued a joint statement as Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) embarked upon a formal review of the service, anticipating a budget cut of 25 to 40 per cent.
 
The statement demands no job cuts or detrimental changes to terms and conditions, and opposes frontline cuts "adversely affecting speed and weight of emergency response".
 
The statement read: "As taxpayers, Unison and FBU members oppose unnecessary waste and extravagance in public services and we are proud and committed to ensuring the services we provide for the public are world class and professional.
 
"Most public sector workers are at best on an average wage and contribute heavily towards their own pensions but we know only too well that our pay and our pensions will be under attack."
However, chief fire officer David Johnson charged FBU leaders with hypocrisy, claiming they had earlier this year called for the scrapping of back office jobs, represented by Unison, to protect the frontline
"Now it seems it suits the FBU to team up with those very members of staff they sought to stab in the back in favour of their own members. It’s sheer hypocrisy," he said.
 
"This destructive, pre-emptive move to engage ECFRS staff in a ridiculous, intransigent position of no job cuts, no changes to the way we work and no frontline cuts cannot be guaranteed until we know the extent of the financial challenge we are facing."
 
A 14 month-long dispute is still in progress over proposed changes to services which ECFRS claims is saving them some £100,000 per month as firefighters refuse to work overtime or act up.
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