| Firefighters and emergency fire control staff will gather on the Scottish Parliament to promote their campaign |
Fire Brigades Union members from the outskirts of Scotland will converge on the Scottish Parliament to promote their campaign to protect the fire and rescue service in Scotland.
Firefighters and emergency fire control staff from around the Scotland will converge on the Scottish Parliament to raise the profile of their campaign to protect the fire and rescue service in Scotland. As well as concerns around pay and pensions the Fire Brigades Union members will be highlighting the public safety dangers of cutting this vital emergency service.
With the service already facing the squeeze financially the FBU have seen proposal after proposal coming forward from their employers, the eight Scottish Fire and Rescue Authorities that reduce the number of frontline firefighters, fire engines and control rooms. Add to this, the spectre of cuts to conditions of service, a four year pay freeze and proposed increases to the current 11% pension contribution, FBU members are looking for support from MSPs.
Those attending will be buoyed by the notice that the Scottish Government wish major proposals to be scrutinised by the Scottish Fire & Rescue Advisory Unit (SFRAU) before implementation and will seek to build on the consensus between the main parties over the future direction of the service.
The service is currently looking at the prospect of major structural reform as a means to reduce the cost of providing the service whilst maintaining the ability to deliver the frontline. The FBU is concerned that although it is right to base any changes on evidence, any undue delay will see unnecessary reductions in key frontline facilities and posts in the meantime.
The lobby will assemble outside the Scottish parliament at 12.00 and will have an opportunity to hear from speakers including FBU general secretary Matt Wrack and a number of MSPs before heading inside Parliament to meet further MSPs.