Essex fire crews end three-year dispute
Wednesday 24 October 2012
Printable
EmailAn industrial dispute over Fire Service cuts in Essex that has lasted more than three years came to an end today.
Local members of Fire Service union Fire Brigades Union have been taking action since August 2009 and went out on strike in July.
They voted by 2 to 1 to accept new terms following negotiations between local FBU leaders and bosses.
FBU executive council member Keith Handscomb said: "The negotiated settlement includes written assurances from the chief fire officer to maintain the overall numbers of wholetime firefighters across Essex up to March 2015 and beyond, subject to central government funding being no worse than already projected."
The Chief Fire Officer Association warned 4,050 front-line firefighters, 60 fire stations and 150 fire engines could all disappear from communities across England if the government's proposed cuts go ahead.
If you appreciated this article then please consider donating to the Morning Star's Fighting Fund to ensure we can keep developing your paper.
Editorial
No excuse for drone killings
Foreign Minister Alistair Burt's admission that the Cameron government has "supported" a survey of attitudes to US drone strikes in Pakistan's tribal areas amounts to a tacit admission of British involvement.
Features
The Nigel buildings rent strike
As Britain faces a new housing crisis we can learn from an occasion when tenants banded together to beat their landlord - and won new council housing
The truth about universal credit
Iain Duncan Smith's brainchild came into force at the end of last month. It's bad news for almost everyone