Latest editorial
FIRE response times in Scotland are at their highest for 20 years, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) told the STUC Congress today.
FBU Scotland secretary Denise Christie proposed a motion in support of the union’s campaign to adopt a new national response time for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
She also emphasised the impact of austerity cuts on public and firefighter safety.
Since 2010, one in five firefighter jobs has disappeared alongside 30% funding cuts — all while climate breakdown brings record blazes and flooding. It’s time to fund our fire service properly, writes FBU general secretary STEVE WRIGHT
The FBU is demanding 52 weeks of full pay for women firefighters, highlighting the unique health risks they face — and the continuing need to recruit and retain more women if policies like this are still not in place, writes SEONA HART
When it comes to extreme weather events, from wildfires to flash floods, it’s firefighters who are on the front line of defence, but services have been cut to the bone, and government is not taking seriously its responsibility for the environment, says STEVE WRIGHT