Crews from Brentwood fire station joined in the national TUC "Day of Action" today in their latest step to have the decision to cut a full-time frontine fire crew reversed.

While the Fire Brigades Union have so far decided against ballotting its members on joining the mass action on public sector pensions but have said they are prepared to co-ordinate their own national strike should talks with Ministers break down again.

Nick Mayes, the FBU rep for Brentwood, said: "The cut of full-time firefighters serving at Brentwood is a worrying example of the real-life, local consequences for the public of the cuts agenda being forced through under the cloak of the banking crisis.

"The people of Brentwood will lose one of their two current full-time fire crews who for decades have been there to respond immediately to 999 calls to save lives, property and deal with other emergencies - this will inevitably put the safety of the public and firefighters at increased risk.

"Quite simply, having bailed out the banks, the people and firefighters of Brentwood are now being asked to pay again. The firefighters at Brentwood simply ask: What price a life?"

Several other stations in the Essex area have already been on closed in what has already been a bitter two year long battle between the FBU and the fire authority who say they are planning further cuts in the future, with Essex Fire & Rescue Service forced to focus on part-timers to attend incidents across the area.

 

Posted 30/11/2011 at 1730 by richard.hook@pavpub.com