Calls to halt changes to firefighters' shifts rejected

Calls to halt controversial changes to firefighters' shift patterns have been rejected.

Gloucestershire County Council approved plans in December to alter firefighters' shifts from nine-hour days and 15-hour nights, to 11-hour days and 13-hour nights.

Opposition councillors hoped to postpone the move to allow more time to hear firefighters' concerns. However, a committee rejected the grounds for their call in this month.

Chief fire officer Mark Preece told the meeting he accepts the changes are not popular and he plans to engage further with staff.

Dozens of Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service's staff have raised concerns about the changes, and the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said they will do "everything in their power" to challenge them, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The changes are expected to take six months to implement and a review into their impact will then be undertaken, the council said.

Some 25 firefighters attended the fire and rescue scrutiny committee meeting on January 10 in opposition to the changes.

Councillor Bernie Fisher raised concerns over the idea of reviewing the changes in six months time.

"It's a bit like throwing you off the back of the boat and saying, 'fancy learning to swim'?

"It's a ridiculous statement to review it six months in, because you are not going to go back then.

"The frontline firefighter affected would have had to make arrangements for elderly residents they care for, childcare, the dog…"

Mr Preece told the meeting the service "needs to move forward in a number of ways" and leaders will be mindful of firefighters' views.

"[We will] engage in further conversations with our members of staff to actually ascertain on an individual level the impact of that decision," he said.

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