News

Councillors have pushed back on plans for cuts in Avon Fire and Rescue Service following a successful campaign by firefighters. Avon fire authority voted to delay cutting crews on fire engines from five to four firefighters at a meeting in March. The decision came after fire service managers were...

The FBU has called for “action and justice” after 10 people died in a fire in a 14-storey residential block in Valencia, Spain, in February. The blaze spread rapidly to an adjoining building, destroying all apartments. It was the deadliest fire in the city in modern history. Seven firefighters were...

Fire employers are being urged by the FBU to guarantee that they will not implement the Westminster government’s latest anti-union laws. The Minimum Service Levels Act became law in July 2023. Regulations covering the fire and rescue service in England were passed by the House of Lords in March this...

The Westminster government has announced new authori­tarian “minimum service levels” for the fire and rescue service. This legislation amounts to an attempt to ban firefighters, control staff and other workers from taking strike action. These new regulations will only apply in England, with the...

The FBU wrote to fire service employers on 6 December to commence discussions on pay as quickly as possible to ensure a pay settlement can be delivered for 1 July. The NJC last year adopted agreed working groups on pay progression, CPD, retained pay and conditions and control job evaluation. The...

Firefighters who attended the Grenfell Tower fire have settled claims for £20m in the High Court. The 114 affected firefighters were given legal support through the FBU and its law firm Thompsons. They suffered personal injury and loss caused by alleged negligence and breach of statutory duty. Some...

FBU members and officials organised monthly humanitarian trips this winter from the North West of England to the refugee camp at Calais in France. Firefighters from across Cumbria, Lancashire and Manchester got organised into delegations; putting a resolution to support Care4Calais, passed at FBU...

A campaign to save North Wales Fire and Rescue Service from cuts resulted in a victory for firefighters and public safety. Following months of FBU members campaigning, rallying, organising and lobbying, North Wales fire authority voted to scrap the last of three austerity proposals. Rhyl and Deeside...

Merseyside fire control members voted to accept an improved offer following last minute negotiations in late December before they were due to go on strike. FBU control room members had voted 100% to strike on a turnout of 92% and were set to strike for eight consecutive days from 27 December...

The FBU’s executive council has announced a wide-ranging plan to tackle sexual harassment, following the publication of an independent report into the issue. In recent years, scandals involving sexual misconduct and misogyny have rocked other unions, most notably the GMB, TSSA and Royal College of...