Firefighters and their families face a further squeeze on living standards as bankers and bosses reap tax cuts in George Osborne’s “Austerity Britain”. Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said today’s budget showed the hollowness of the chancellor’s “All in this together” claim – with firefighters and other public sector workers facing a real cutback in pay as Osborne calls for rises to be pegged at 1% for a further year. With inflation at 2.7% and rising, that means a pay cut.
“Once again firefighters and other public sector workers are bearing the brunt of cut backs fuelled by bone-headed determination to stick with a failed economic plan. Osborne seems intent not only on shrinking the state, but shrinking the spending power of workers who deserve a fair rate for the contribution they make. And spending which could help revive the moribund economy.
“Firefighters take pride in their job, and are already fighting ill-thought out station closures. This budget flags up a further £11.5 billion cut across departments in the next spending round. The fire service is already cut to the bone. There must be no more playing fast and loose with public safety. There must be no more fire station closures. The public deserve to be protected.”
