Notts: Service gears up for eight days of strike action

Notts Fire and Rescue Service received 47 calls over the course of Thursday’s planned industrial action between 10:00am and 7:00pm - 15 of which required an emergency response by contingency crews.

Following yesterday’s nationwide strike, the Service is now gearing up for eight consecutive days of strike action by the union, which starts on Monday 14th July and will take the total number of strike days to 21 in the FBU’s current dispute with the government over pensions.

Since September, the Service has continued to provide an emergency response to 999 calls during industrial action with its specially recruited contingency crews and firefighters who are not members of the FBU.

But while the Service’s arrangements have worked well, Nottinghamshire’s Chief Fire Officer, John Buckley, believes they are no substitute for the county’s full establishment of fire and rescue crews.

“The Service is legally bound to ensure that contingency plans are in place and that an emergency fire and rescue response is available at all times,” Mr Buckley said. “Through careful planning and implementation of these contingency arrangements, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has continued to cope with the demands placed upon it, and I commend the work of all those who have striven to ensure public safety during times of industrial action.

“However, the situation is far from ideal and, while arrangements have worked well, they are no substitute for our full strength fire and rescue provision. I therefore repeat my hope that the government and FBU can resume the necessary negotiations to bring this dispute to an end, and we can resume our established fire and rescue cover both in Nottinghamshire and across the country.”

Members of the Fire Brigades Union have scheduled industrial action for the following days and times:

- Monday 14 July 6am to 8am and 5pm to 7pm

- Tuesday 15 July 6am to 8am and 5pm to 7pm

- Wednesday 16 July 6am to 8am and 5pm to 7pm

- Thursday 17 July 6am to 8am and 5pm to 7pm

- Friday 18 July 6am to 8am

- Friday 18 July 11pm to 1am Saturday 19 July

- Saturday 19 July 11am to 1pm

- Saturday 19 July 11pm to 1am Sunday 20 July

- Sunday 20 July 5pm to 7pm

- Monday 21 July 6am to 8am and 5pm to 7pm