SOUTH YORKSHIRE - FIRE CREWS SET MORE STRIKE DATES AFTER AUTHORITY REFUSES TO WITHDRAW DISMISSAL NOTICES AND REJECTS NATIONAL TALKS

South Yorkshire fire crews have set more days of strike action in a dispute with the fire authority over shifts changes and the threat to sack 744 firefighters to force through the changes. The authority turned down a union request to seek the assistance of national employers and union or ACAS to help broker an agreement, a move backed by local MPs.

The latest strike dates to be notified to the authority are:

6th November 2009 commencing at 18.00 Hrs until 24.00 Hrs
7th November 2009 commencing at 00.00 Hrs until 04.00 Hrs
7th November 2009 commencing at 08.00 Hrs until 13.00 Hrs
7th November 2009 commencing at 20.00 Hrs until 24.00 Hrs
8th November 2009 commencing at 07.00 Hrs until 12.00 Hrs
8th November 2009 commencing at 21.00 Hrs until 24.00 Hrs
9th November 2009 commencing at 00.00 Hrs until 02.00 Hrs
9th November 2009 commencing at 09.00 Hrs until 14.00 Hrs
9th November 2009 commencing at 20.00 Hrs until 24.00 Hrs

A total of five 8-hour strikes are set to commence from Saturday 31st October to 2 November between 4pm and midnight. Two sets of 24-hour strike action took place on 19th Oct 6pm to 20th Oct 6pm and 23rd Oct 6pm to 24th 6pm.

South Yorkshire fire crews voted five to one to strike against plans to sack 744 firefighters to force through new contracts requiring 12-hour day shifts from 1 January. The Fire Brigades Union was notified of the mass sackings of all 744 firefighters by fax on 30 June.

Firefighters say the change in working hours are a prelude to cutting emergency cover during the night, a step they believe threatens public safety.  The proposed shifts would also would damage family life and make it impossible for many to arrange childcare provision.

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