As storms and floods hit, Firefighters in Surrey and in Kent have been recalled to duty under the terms of an agreement between the Fire Brigades Union, the employers and national government, the FBU has confirmed.
As in previous strikes, across the country severe incidents that meet specific criteria will prompt discussions between FBU officials and management at local fire and rescue services, who can then agree that firefighters can voluntarily come back to work (except in Essex and Buckinghamshire, where management have refused to sign up). In Surrey and in Kent, severe storms and flooding has ensured that firefighters have agreed to come back to work. The incidents are likely to include large scale evacuations of local people. In other flooding incidents on this scale firefighters have carried out large number of rescues. Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union General Secretary, said: “Firefighters have dedicated their lives to public safety and are proud to serve their communities when their safety is threatened.
“Firefighters in Surrey, Kent and across the country are doing tremendous job in very difficult conditions, and where safety is significantly threatened have set aside their differences with government to put the public first. This should demonstrate very clearly the commitment of the FBU to public safety.
“Firefighters provide this service 365 days a year, every year of their careers, and I hope that when the dust settles tonight we can re-engage with government and through discussion agree a pension scheme that reflects the difficult work that they do. We should not be put in this position again.”
