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A group of firefighters from Birmingham join other members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) during a rally outside the Houses of Parliament in central London, calling for more investment in the fire service, October 8, 2024
HUNDREDS of firefighters from across Britain staged a mass rally and lobby of Parliament today to demand urgent action to save fire services that are “on their knees.”
Firefighters at the Fire Brigades Union’s Time To Deliver rally called on the new Labour government in Westminster to meet 10 demands to reverse 14 years of Tory austerity.
This included proper investment to make fire services better and safer as well as fit to fight new challenges created by climate change.
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
