Firefighters in Mid and West Wales are fighting to scrap plans to change shift patterns, with the fire service threatening to enforce “exhausting” new 12-hour shifts.
Over 200 firefighters and supporters gathered at a rally outside Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service headquarters in March, calling for the fire authority to listen to the concerns of the frontline. Over 4,000 people have signed a petition opposing the new shifts.
Mid and West Wales FBU is considering all options to fight the changes, including industrial action, with branches meeting to decide next steps for the campaign.
Tom Wass, Mid and West Wales FBU brigade organiser says that “hardworking firefighters fear that they will be forced to leave the profession”, with "concerns raised around the financial cost and lack of availability of 12-hour childcare being ignored by management."
FBU reps say that senior management is continuing to “downplay and dismiss the repeated claims of bullying and nepotism” detailed in a damning culture review published this January, with members calling for change to the “boys club” at the top instead of changes to shifts.
Duncan Stewart-Ball, FBU regional secretary for Wales said that “the fire authority must start listening to firefighters and holding the chief fire officer and senior management to account”.
