Pirate turtle the 11th
24th October 2009, 10:21
Firefighters in South Yorkshire are taking part in a second 24-hour strike after attempts to resolve a row with employers over shift patterns failed.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46585000/jpg/_46585974_008145402-1.jpg
Hundreds of workers began industrial action at 1800 BST on Friday.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has announced plans for a further five strike dates to run from 31 October to 4 November.
Last-ditch talks were held on Thursday, but a new offer put forward by fire bosses was rejected by the union.
The union said fire crews would walk out from 1600 BST to midnight every night from the 31 October until 4 November.
The action comes after 744 employees were threatened with the sack if they did not accept new employment contracts stating they had to work 12-hour day and night shifts.
The fire authority wants crews to work the new shifts in place of the current nine-hour days and 15-hour nights.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/start_quote_rb.gif Their actions at the moment are placing the public at risk unnecessarily http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/end_quote_rb.gif
Mark Smitherman, South Yorkshire Fire Authority
But firefighters have argued this would present families with a range of problems, including childcare arrangements.
The fire authority's new offer would see crews work 10-and-a-half hour day shifts and 13-and-a-half hour nights, to take effect from 2 December.
The authority said it would then begin negotiations with the FBU in an attempt to reach agreement on 12-hour shifts by 31 March 2010.
But the FBU said this was merely a delaying tactic.
Regional secretary Ian Murray said: "Unless they withdraw the threat of mass sackings and enter negotiations without preconditions, the strike action will go ahead.
"South Yorkshire fire crews are not going to be threatened and bullied into submission."
The authority's chief fire officer said the breakdown of talks was "extremely regrettable".
Mark Smitherman said: "I'm amazed the Fire Brigades Union can still continue to refuse to get involved in negotiations.
"Their actions at the moment are placing the public at risk unnecessarily because there is an option for them to enter into negotiations."
The fire authority said managers and volunteers would be manning 15 front-line fire engines and a series of other appliances would be used for minor incidents.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/8323138.stm
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46585000/jpg/_46585974_008145402-1.jpg
Hundreds of workers began industrial action at 1800 BST on Friday.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has announced plans for a further five strike dates to run from 31 October to 4 November.
Last-ditch talks were held on Thursday, but a new offer put forward by fire bosses was rejected by the union.
The union said fire crews would walk out from 1600 BST to midnight every night from the 31 October until 4 November.
The action comes after 744 employees were threatened with the sack if they did not accept new employment contracts stating they had to work 12-hour day and night shifts.
The fire authority wants crews to work the new shifts in place of the current nine-hour days and 15-hour nights.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/start_quote_rb.gif Their actions at the moment are placing the public at risk unnecessarily http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/end_quote_rb.gif
Mark Smitherman, South Yorkshire Fire Authority
But firefighters have argued this would present families with a range of problems, including childcare arrangements.
The fire authority's new offer would see crews work 10-and-a-half hour day shifts and 13-and-a-half hour nights, to take effect from 2 December.
The authority said it would then begin negotiations with the FBU in an attempt to reach agreement on 12-hour shifts by 31 March 2010.
But the FBU said this was merely a delaying tactic.
Regional secretary Ian Murray said: "Unless they withdraw the threat of mass sackings and enter negotiations without preconditions, the strike action will go ahead.
"South Yorkshire fire crews are not going to be threatened and bullied into submission."
The authority's chief fire officer said the breakdown of talks was "extremely regrettable".
Mark Smitherman said: "I'm amazed the Fire Brigades Union can still continue to refuse to get involved in negotiations.
"Their actions at the moment are placing the public at risk unnecessarily because there is an option for them to enter into negotiations."
The fire authority said managers and volunteers would be manning 15 front-line fire engines and a series of other appliances would be used for minor incidents.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/8323138.stm