Strike Action By Fire Brigade

Private firm to provide basic stand-by cover

Firefighters will start strike action on Saturday but residents are being reassured that there will be adequate cover.

London Fire Brigade has employed a private company to provide "basic fire-fighting and some rescue capabilities".

The contractors will have the use of 27 fire engines deployed throughout the capital – one of them borrowed from Southall fire station.

Firefighters will walk out from 10am to 6pm on October 23 after members voted for strike action following a long-running dispute over changes to their shift patterns. They say their contracts are being torn up without negotiation to pave the way for them working 12-hour shifts, instead of nine-hour days and 15-hour nights.

Brian Coleman, chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, said: "We’ve been discussing this for five years and have offered to compromise, so it’s time for the FBU to stop blocking these changes."

Meanwhile FBU general secretary Matt Wrack, said: "Firefighters hate going on strike but they hate being bullied even more."

October 21 2010