Gloucestershire firefighters urge councillors to drop plans for shift changes
The Fire Brigades Union have warned the changes could lead to people leaving the service.
Last updated 7th Mar 2025
Firefighters are set to address Gloucestershire County Council’s fire scrutiny panel to call on councillors to drop plans to change shift patterns.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has warned that changing day shifts from 8am to 7pm instead of 9am to 6pm for wholetime firefighters risks forcing many firefighters out of the service.
Over 70 firefighters from across Gloucestershire have sent letters to the council raising concerns that the changes will increase childcare and caring costs for firefighters already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
FBU officials say that the county council will be punishing women in the service instead of supporting them, while the change in working hours will have a detrimental impact on firefighter and public safety.
Kate Yhnell, Fire Brigades Union brigade organiser for Gloucestershire said:
“Gloucestershire firefighters are urging all members of the county council fire scrutiny committee to recommend against disastrous changes to working hours tomorrow.”
“Forcing firefighters to work eleven hour shifts will only pile unnecessary pressure on the frontline. We are raising the alarm that exhausting the workforce and pushing many firefighters out of the service will create an avoidable staffing crisis, risking public safety.”
“Gloucestershire fire and rescue service should be supporting women and those with caring responsibilities, not punishing them with this additional financial and mental burden.”
“To avoid potential industrial action, Gloucestershire County Council must start listening to firefighters and reverse this decision.”
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.”