Aerial view of Wennington in aftermath of 2022 fire

London wildfire response failures were "negligence driven by cuts"

By Ben Duncan-Duggal
The London Fire Brigade has today released a Major Incident Review looking at its response to the July 2022 wildfires. It confirms that a shortage of crew and fire appliances hampered the response. Since 2010, around one in five firefighter jobs have been cut, while the risk of extreme weather...
FFs in Scotland protest against cuts

FBU READIES CAMPAIGN FOR JOBS

Just months after the settlement of the UK-wide pay dispute, firefighters are once again facing a battle – this time over cuts to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). Following the announcement of a “flat cash” budget from the Scottish government between 2022 and 2027, the service is...
FFs Guard of Honour Grenfell 6th anniversary GS Matt Wrack

New flagship campaign

At our annual conference in May, more than 100 delegates came together to debate the FBU’s campaigns and activities for the coming year. It was a lively event, on which we report in detail in this issue. Most prominent was the launch of a new flagship campaign – Equality Matters – to fight for...

Firefighter magazine June July 2023

Front cover June July FF 2023
This issue reports on FBU annual conference where the Equality Matters campaign was launched. Other features include an interview with London firefighter Dave Badillo on Grenfell six years on; preparing for the next general election and; what’s next in protecting the right to strike. News covered...

Firefighter magazine
Scottish firefighters at work with truck

Scottish wildfire rages as fire service faces cuts, warns union

By Alice Dann
Cuts to the number of fire appliances in Fife and Tayside are the latest in a long line of cuts affecting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The latest cuts will see appliances removed from over ten stations, including four in Fife with Methil, Dunfermline and Glenrothes each losing one fire...
Cuts campaign win in Notts

Lobbies and protests stop cuts

As firefighters rallied outside, Nottinghamshire council reversed £2m of cuts to the local fire service. FBU members in the region won this U-turn by taking action against the threat. Planned cuts would have seen several fire stations lose firefighters, cover time and appliances. After the initial...
FFs fiar pay rally in London Dec 2022 credit Mark Thomas

FBU slams government’s ‘war on workers’ in first budget

The first budget of the Sunak government, delivered on 15 March, might have been an opportunity for the new Prime Minister to set out a change of course The government set out to “reassure the markets” after Liz Truss’s disastrous budget last autumn. But “reassuring the markets”, in the language of...
Firefighters lobby Cornwall Council Cabinet

Fire Brigades Union wins campaign to save Cornwall Fire Control centre

By Alice Dann
Today, March 22nd, Cornwall Council Cabinet has voted to U-turn on plans to close Cornwall FRS’ Critical Fire Control Centre following a sustained campaign led by firefighters. Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service had announced plans to scrap its entire control operation on money-saving grounds last...
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