(20 February 2015) The European Federation of Public Services Unions (EPSU) Firefighters Network sends a message of solidarity to our Irish affiliates IMPACT and SIPTU affiliates calling on full-time and retained firefighters to attend a March and rally in Dublin on Tuesday 24th February to oppose attempts to unilaterally implement reductions in crewing levels. The unions have said that the measures could jeopardise the safety of both firefighters and the public.
IMPACT said “the rally was an opportunity to make a strong statement in opposition to reckless and dangerous decisions which could put the safety of our members and the public at risk.”
The union moreover claims that a directive from Government to local fire service management has sought crewing reductions that has not be done without providing the relevant risk assessments, despite repeated requests from the unions representing staff.
More information on the rally here:
http://www.impact.ie/impact-urges-support-rally-opposing-fire-crew-reductions/
The UK Firefighters Brigade Union FBU also recently published a report that established the link between austerity and cuts in budgets of firefighting services and the impact on occupational health and safety.
In Britain since 2010, according to the reports there have been over 5000 firefighter jobs lost, 39 fire stations closed and response times increased therefore substantially putting at risk firefighters.
In England alone between 1993/94 and 2003/04, there were 6 firefighter deaths at fires but in the next ten years 2004/05 to 2013/14 this more than doubled in the UK with 13 firefighter deaths and one fire technician death. One firefighter in Wales was killed in 2004 in an explosion due to a criminal act. Often these fatalities occurred in similar settings and similar circumstances.
More information on the rally here:
http://www.fbu.org.uk/resources/firefighter-fatalities-fires-uk-2004-2013-voices-fireground/
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