The FBU in Scotland is consulting members on the possibility of strike action over devastating cuts as publication of the Scottish government’s budget on 19 December was awaited.
Earlier, an FBU report laid bare the “firestorm” faced by the Scottish fire and rescue service (SFRS) over the past decade. This crisis has been created by a combination of cuts, lack of recruitment, declining training standards and the climate emergency.
Since its creation just over a decade ago the SFRS has cut more than 1,200 jobs, with hundreds more now at risk. This year alone has seen the withdrawal of 10 fire appliances, several high-reach vehicles and the Clyde rescue boat, leaving communities with reduced emergency cover.
There are over 50 recommendations that have come from those who know the service best, the firefighters who work on the frontline
The “firestorm” report highlights insufficient staffing levels, inadequate and out of date equipment, crumbling infrastructure, an aggressive management culture, falling training standards, and a lack of action to tackle exposure to contaminants.
“There are over 50 recommendations that have come from those who know the service best, the firefighters who work on the frontline,” said FBU Scotland regional secretary John McKenzie. “Over the last decade we have been failed by political leaders who have tried to ignore this crisis. They cannot ignore us now.”
