FIREFIGHTERS are being urged by their union to reject a contract that they claim will massively expand their role on the ground.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is urging its members to reject the new contract, compiled by fire bosses, which includes no restrictions on firefighters’ work.

A new “non-exhaustive” list of duties was also proposed, which the union claims will amount to giving firefighters an open-ended contract.

This could see employers and managers determining on the spot what a firefighter’s job role should be in any situation.

The union is now intending to ballot its members on whether they should reject the employers’ proposal, and whether the union should continue fighting for its own strategy of expanding the role of a firefighter but for management to also take safety, wages and training negotiations seriously.

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: “Firefighters will be very angry at this proposal. It is unacceptable to expect firefighters to agree to this list of dreamed-up responsibilities.

“Worse still, fire service employers clearly want an unrestricted ability to pile further tasks onto firefighters without negotiation.

“We are open to discussion about the role firefighters undertake.

“However, no trade union could recommend that their members sign up to a contract with complete flexibility at the employers’ discretion.

“We cannot agree to expand a firefighter’s role unless it is linked to a guaranteed pay increase.

“We strongly recommend that firefighters reject this proposal. We are a democratic organisation and it should be our members who make that decision; that is why we are balloting.”

Balloting is expected to begin on March 18.