Firefighters in Gloucestershire rally against proposed shift changes
The proposed shift pattern changes would see day shift go from 9 hours to 11.
Gloucestershire firefighters are set to rally outside a meeting of the county council's fire scrutiny panel today.
It’s in protest of proposed shift pattern changes which would see a day shift go from 9am to 6pm to 8am to 7pm.
The Fire Brigades Union has warned that these changes could force firefighters out of the service.
Firefighters have raised concerns that theses changes will be punishing women and people in the service with families instead of supporting them.
Many firefighters say they will need to arrange alternative childcare that will cost more for some people in the force who are already struggling with the cost of living crisis.
Members of the fire scrutiny committee raised concerns around the plans impacting morale in the service, a lack of childcare provision, the detrimental effect on firefighters’ family lives, the significant impact on women in the workforce, and the toll the changes would take on firefighters’ physical and mental health.
Kate Yhnell, who is a firefighter and the Fire Brigades Union brigade organiser for Gloucestershire said:
“Firefighters work day and night to keep the people of Gloucestershire safe.
“The council must listen to their serious concerns that changes to working hours will force many out of the service.”
Mark Preece, Chief Fire Officer, spoke previously on the changes saying : “We want to ensure we have the right people, in the right place, at the right time to provide emergency response, community prevention and safety needs across the county.”
We've approached Gloucestershire County Council for a response.