Cuts

Tam Macfarlane wearing an FBU beanie speaks with a mic at a rally of striking phlebotomists

Maxed out?

Do governments have to “balance the books” – and why is it always workers who pay the price? Professor Gregor Gall debunks the spin. At times of economic and political crisis, governments often erode and undermine – in other words, attack - public sector workers and their terms and conditions of...

Red Notice December 2025

16 Dec, 2025

The December 2025 edition of Red Notice, a monthly newsletter for FBU members sharing the latest updates from the union's campaigning work.

Firefighters towing a rescue boat in flood water

Firefighters tackling flooding in wake of Storm Bram warn that investment needed to protect UK

10 Dec, 2025 By Alice Dann

The Fire Brigades Union says fire and rescue services are in desperate need of resources in the wake of Storm Bram flooding chaos this week. Storm Bram brought 90mph winds, rain and flooding to parts of UK. The Met Office warned of danger to life in areas of Scotland. At the storm’s peak, there were...

Steve Wright addresses hall of FBU members

Oxfordshire firefighters to rally at county hall as part of campaign against “dangerous” cuts

04 Dec, 2025 By Alice Dann

Firefighters in Oxfordshire are preparing to launch a “huge” campaign against cuts to Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. Yesterday, over 150 firefighters from across the county travelled to Oxford for a mass Fire Brigades Union (FBU) members’ meeting in opposition to the county council’s plans...

Red Notice November 2025

17 Nov, 2025

The November 2025 edition of Red Notice, a monthly newsletter for FBU members sharing the latest updates from the union's campaigning work.

New figures show extent of London’s fire engine crisis as pressure grows for mayor to intervene

14 Nov, 2025 By Alice Dann

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has today revealed stark figures showing that the London Fire Brigade (LFB) only managed to keep its full fleet of fire engines available for 5% of shifts during the year to date. [1] Between 1 January and 8 November 2025, the full fleet was only available for 33 shifts...

FBU lodges objection to “indefensible” and “undemocratic” plans to cut Buckinghamshire fire service

10 Nov, 2025 By Alice Dann

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has written to Buckinghamshire fire authority, formally objecting to proposals that would see the removal of seven retained fire engines and to close fire stations at Great Missenden and Stokenchurch. The fire authority is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 12 November, to...

1 in 5 fire engines in London unavailable due to cuts as service faces “austerity” budget

07 Nov, 2025 By Michael Chessum

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has issued a stark warning against proposals to further cut the “overstretched and under-resourced" London Fire Brigades’ budget next year. In a letter sent to all London MPs this week, the union highlighted that between 20 and 30 fire engines are routinely unavailable...

Austerity worsening bonfire night "chaos" says union, as attacks on firefighters reported

06 Nov, 2025 By Alice Dann

The Fire Brigades Union says that firefighters are pushed "far beyond safe limits" responding to a huge number of calls on bonfire night without the resources needed. The Scottish fire and rescue service reported responding to over 700 calls yesterday. The London Fire Brigade reported responding to...

Aerial view of two fire appliances driving on a long road through smoke of wildfire

All hands on deck... but can the service cope?

This summer, two major wildfire incidents at opposite ends of England pushed firefighters to the limit. With fire services facing deeper cuts, Barrie Clement investigates. Two massive incidents this summer gave a graphic illustration of the scandalous lack of resources in Britain’s fire service...

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