Government

Birmingham bin workers - steve talks to media

A step forward: the Employment Rights Bill has passed

22 Dec, 2025 By Michael Chessum

FBU general secretary Steve Wright gives an update on the passing of landmark workers' rights legislation. On 16 December, the Employment Rights Bill finally passed through the Westminster parliament. The Bill is the biggest advancement in workers’ rights in decades. For months, unelected Tory peers...

Starmer must defy Lords and deliver Employment Rights Bill before Christmas, says union leader

11 Dec, 2025 By Michael Chessum

The House of Lords once again voted to block parts of the Employment Rights Bill last night. Steve Wright, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said: “For 14 years, the Tories hammered the living standards of working people. They are now using the unelected Lords to continue that policy. “This is...

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...

Environmental groups urge Reeves to "fund frontline response to the climate crisis"

25 Nov, 2025 By Michael Chessum

As Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares to deliver her budget, environemtal and tax justice groups have joined the Fire Brigades Union in calling for major investment in the fire and rescue service. View the full text of the letter here. In a letter to the Chancellor and Environment Secretary Ed...

Firefighters rally outside Northampton County Hall

Firefighters union welcomes plans to scrap controversial police commissioners, calling for scrutiny

13 Nov, 2025 By Alice Dann

The Fire Brigades Union has responded to reports that the government plans to scrap the controversial model of police and crime commissioners. Currently, four PCCs— in Cumbria, Essex, Northamptonshire, and Staffordshire— hold responsibility for fire and rescue services in addition to their duties...

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...

Steve Wright speaks from TUC congress podium

Fighting for workers

Firefighter reports from TUC and Labour Party conference 2025 This September, FBU delegates travelled to Brighton for the annual Trades Union Congress – a conference that brings together trade unions from across the movement to discuss, debate and decide on policy. And as a Labour affiliated union...

Firefighters make Bonfire night call for Reeves to fund fire service in upcoming budget

05 Nov, 2025 By Michael Chessum

The Fire Brigades Union is calling for urgent government funding for the fire and rescue service in the upcoming budget, saying services are facing bonfire night without adequate resources. Bonfire night is annually one of the busiest nights of the year for fire and rescue call outs. This comes as...

Firefighter Oct/ Nov 2025

03 Nov, 2025

The cover image of Firefighter Oct / nov issue, with a photo of a misty landscape with multiple fire engines

The cover story of this issue of Firefighter looks at what happens when multiple major wildfire incidents break out at the same time, in opposite ends of the country, at a time when resources have been stretched thinner than ever... This issue also includes a reprint of an article originally...

Firefighter magazine

Watering down workers rights bill would be a "disaster" for government, says trade union leader

27 Oct, 2025 By Alice Dann

The Fire Brigades Union is calling for the government to stand firm and deliver the Employment Rights Bill in full, following reports of talks with businesses seeking to water down new workers rights. The union says any watering down of the bill would be a "betrayal" of Labour's popular manifesto...

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