THE Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has welcomed the Welsh government’s opposition to the Tories’ Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act. 

In a letter to Fire Minister Chris Philp, Welsh Deputy Minister for Social Partnership Hannah Blythyn condemned the Act as an “unworkable intrusion into devolved matters,” and described the legislation as “fundamentally flawed, damaging and counter-productive.”

Under the Act, “work notices” will be able to dictate that 73 per cent of fire engines be crewed during industrial action, while control rooms will be expected to operate as normal.

While these regulations only apply in England, Ms Blythyn’s letter says that the Welsh government will “not be contributing to a fundamentally flawed, damaging and counterproductive” piece of legislation. 

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said:  “Westminster is attempting to impose a strike ban for firefighters, control staff and other fire service employees. 

“This is an attack on basic democratic rights.

“The Welsh government has sent a clear message to the fire minister by refusing to co-operate. 

“These unworkable regulations can and must be resisted by fire service employers, who have the power to refuse to issue work notices.”