What: Fire service cuts and pension theft protest
Where: West Norwood fire station, 210 Knights Hill, London, SE27 0QA
When: 1pm, Tuesday 25 November 2014
Firefighters will hold a protest over fire service cuts and pension theft to coincide with the opening of West Norwood fire station where Westminster fire minister Penny Mordaunt will be in attendance.
Paul Embery, secretary of the FBU in London, said: “Firefighters and the public alike will understand the irony of a Tory minister being asked to open a new fire station when the government she is a part of have been responsible for some of the biggest cuts in the history of the fire and rescue service.
“Since 2010 over 5,000 firefighter jobs have been cut, more than 40 fire stations have closed and 999 emergency call response times have increased. These cuts have a massive effect on the ability of firefighters to do their job effectively and keep the public safe.
“The government expects 60 year olds to have the same fitness standards as 20 year olds even though their own evidence, through the Williams review, shows this is ludicrous.”
The FBU “battle bus” will be in attendance and there will be speeches from union officials.