UPDATED: Firefighters across the Island who are members of The Fire Brigades Union will strike for three days next month, it has been announced this afternoon (Thursday).
The latest round of strikes comes as talks between the government and employers about proposed changes to firefighter’s pensions have failed to produce a breakthrough following months of discussions and years of negotiations.
On the following dates, the Isle of Wight will have limited fire cover operated by firefighters that are not part of the union.
Friday 2nd May – Noon until 17:00
Saturday 3rd May – 14:00 until 02:00
Sunday 4th May – 10:00 until 15:00.
In addition, the Union has proposed a ban on any voluntary overtime between 15:00 on Sunday 4th May until noon on Friday 9th May.
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said:
“After three years of negotiations and an intense four months presenting an indisputable, evidence-based case for the need to ensure a pension scheme that takes into account the unique occupation of firefighting, the government is still burying its head in the sand.
“we remain totally committed to resolving the dispute through negotiation, and are ready to meet to consider a workable proposal as soon as possible.”
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UPDATED MONDAY: Fire cover will be maintained on the Island by non-FBU members who will attend life-critical incidents such as house fires or road traffic incidents. Fire control will not be affected by the strike and will be operating as normal – people should continue to dial 999 in an emergency.
The Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (IWFRS) will work in partnership with the other emergency services and partner agencies to respond to incidents. Each call will be assessed by the fire and rescue service and resources will be deployed as appropriate. Priority will be given to calls where lives are at risk, so in some cases, such as animal rescues or people trapped in lifts, calls will be challenged by Fire Control Operators and resources may not be deployed.
Householders and businesses are advised not to take unnecessary risks during periods of strike action and make preparations to reduce their chances of needing assistance from the fire and rescue service. This includes taking extra care when cooking or smoking, checking that smoke alarms are working and knowing what to do in an event of a fire and sharing this knowledge with others.
Owners of non-residential premises are also being reminded to prepare by ensuring their legislative duties, such as fire risk assessments and fire safety management, are up to date.
