Industrial action

Just a week before the Olympics open, the Essex Chief Fire Officer is threatening to stand down his own fire crews during Olympic events. Fire crews say this is a blatant attempt by the chief to disrupt the Olympics and shift the blame onto his own firefighters. The union has lawfully called a...

‘999-CALLS-ONLY’ action and short periods of strike aimed at highlighting the serious concerns of frontline professionals whilst avoiding and limiting disruption during the Olympics. FBU General Secretary, Matt Wrack has given lawful notice of industrial action by Essex fire crews in the long...

Essex fire crews are set to start a 24-hour strike tomorrow starting Wednesday at 09.00 until 09.00 on Thursday morning. They accuse their managers of being wholly intransigent, dictatorial and hell-bent on confrontation. Delegations of firefighters from across the UK will be joining a march and...

Essex fire crews are set to take the stage during the Tom Morello/The Night Watchman set at the Hard Rock Calling festival in Hyde Park on 14 July. The set is anticipated to start at 14.50. Essex fire crews are highlighting their dispute and strike action over cuts to the frontline 999 service and...

FBU reps from fire stations and workplaces across Essex will meet this morning to review developments ahead of the 1-hour strike overnight (4am to 5am, Saturday 7 July). The union has confirmed the planned timing of the strike means the Olympic torch celebrations in Essex will be unaffected...

Exploratory ‘talks about talks’ between the conciliation service ACAS and the Fire Brigades Union have adjourned. ACAS met separately with Essex fire service managers. The national fire service conciliators were in attendance. Keith Handscomb from the FBU negotiating team said: “From the union’s...

An exploratory meeting organised by ACAS to try and resolve the Essex dispute is taking place on the afternoon of Thursday 5 July. It will be attended by Essex Fire Brigades Union, national fire service conciliators and fire service managers. Adrian Clarke, FBU Regional Secretary said: “We’re going...

Essex fire crews have accused managers of fuelling their dispute by imposing even more new changes without agreement. Essex Fire Brigades Union has accused managers of crass and inflammatory action only a matter of days before a meeting organised by ACAS to try and resolve the dispute is due to take...