MERSEYSIDE Fire and Rescue Service control staff will strike later this month.

Control staff delivered an overwhelming mandate for strike action in August, with 100% voting Yes on a turnout of 92%. The dispute centres on the imposed reduction in night-time staffing numbers and the introduction of a duty shift system.

Following the ballot result, negotiations were ongoing between the union and Merseyside fire employers at the National Joint Council (NJC).

But FBU members in Merseyside fire control voted overwhelmingly to reject an offer from employers last week. They said the offer “failed to address some of the issues relating to the proposed duty shift system”, and employers “refused to even discuss the imposed reduction in night-time staffing numbers.”

The FBU has now notified the employer of eight days of strike action, which will seriously disrupt the fire and rescue service, both in Merseyside and across the U.K, with the control room fulfilling the national resilience responsibility.  

Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said: “Imposing contracts on firefighters and downgrading working conditions is a threat to public safety. Control room staff have emphatically backed industrial action to defend their conditions and their fire service – and the intransigence of employers gives us no choice but to use that mandate. 

“The cost of resolving this dispute would be minimal. The cost of not resolving it is major disruption to the fire service. I urge Merseyside fire employers to use the time between now and the strike to come forward with a credible offer.

“The whole of the Fire Brigades Union across the UK stands behind Merseyside control members.”

Ian Hibbert, Fire Brigades Union Brigade Secretary for Merseyside said: “Our members in fire control are the undisputed occupational experts, who are dealing with an employer that not only ignores that expertise, but seeks to rip up local agreements that protect control staff, firefighters and members of the public alike”. 

“Firefighters and control staff do not take industrial action lightly, but having exhausted every option with an employer who refuses to listen, we have been left with no other choice. The time has come for Merseyside Fire and Rescue service to listen to members in fire control, to listen to the Fire Brigades Union and to reach agreement on all issues.” 

In a statement, a Merseyside Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: "Over recent months the Service has been working with local and national Fire Brigades Union (FBU) officials; and directly with the staff in our Fire Control room on a proposed new duty system, one that meets their aspirations and the need to provide the public with a highly effective demand led service. We believed we had reached an agreement (in writing) with the FBU and are genuinely surprised by the decision to set strike dates, particularly as we have not been given any detailed explanation as to why our proposal, which reflects the ambitions of our control room team, has been rejected.

"We are especially disappointed for our newer staff. Particularly as the service’s proposal increased staffing numbers from 32 to 35 (including new managerial and training roles), introduced career progression opportunities, included a significant circa £7k pay rise for many and a hugely improved work-life balance for all. The only area of contention was the change from 6 staff during the day shift and 6 staff of a night shift, to 7 in the day and 5 of a night.

"However, it is important to reiterate that this approach reflects the demands placed on the Service and the fact that we respond to twice as many calls during the day than we do at night. We also train and exercise significantly more during day than the night when the public and business are available.

"Strike action is not in anyone’s best interest, this action seeks only to defend historic and now outdated working practice, whilst limiting the opportunities for our staff to train against the risks we undoubtedly face. The initial changes have seen us deal with calls faster and become quicker at responding to the public.”