FRSA says that the continued undervaluing of the On-Call service is a national disgrace

Responding to yesterday’s national employers pay offer of 3.8% for the Fire and Rescue Service, Tristan Ashby, Chief Executive Officer of the Fire and Rescue Services Association said:

‘Firefighters across the country will be downhearted with the employers’ offer of an increase only 3.8%, which barely keeps face with inflation. Even this small increase is unfunded which will lead to further pressure to close stations and reduce firefighter numbers.

The 28 members of the National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services have once again missed the opportunity to strengthen the fire and rescue service by expanding the roles fire and rescue authorities can perform, not least in supporting the health service, and bolstering the under-pressure On-Call firefighter service.

On-Call firefighters will be particularly disappointed with this offer. They currently receive an annual income of £5,832 plus payments when they are called out which are naturally highly variable. There remain significant problems in retaining and recruiting on-call firefighters, but this fact seems to have eluded the National Joint Council when formulating this latest proposal. The families of On-Call firefighters rightly ask why they have to put their lives on hold while their family members await an emergency call, for such a parsimonious return.

On-Call firefighters protect vast swathes of the United Kingdom, including many sites of great economic, environmental, historic and defence value. The continued underfunding of this vital element of our civil defence is a national disgrace and takes advantage of our courageous and public spirited On-Call firefighters. The Ministry of Defence says that the armed services need an additional £28 billion over the next four years. An infinitesimal portion of that will create a stable, safe and modernised fire service where all employees receive a fair income and the homeland is protected.

Wholetime firefighters are also questioning why there has been such a lack of progress in the pay framework, much has been promised in recent years without any meaningful progress. Percentage pay increases on salaries which have already fallen behind other sectors mean that they fall even further behind year on year.

Our members rightly consider the fire and rescue service is ‘stuck in a rut’ and the major institutions directing its future need fundamental reform, not least the National Joint Council which acts in a policy vacuum totally devoid of any acknowledgement of the national interest.

All firefighters deserve better.’

Tristan Ashby
Chief Executive Officer of the Fire and Rescue Services Association

ENDS