Privatisation of London fire training and of the fire control centre would compromise safety and bring high financial risks

A new report warns that plans to privatise London Fire Brigade training and the fire control centre would compromise safety whilst imposing new high financial risks on the capital’s fire service. The European Services Strategy Unit, jointly commissioned by the FBU, GMB and UNISON, has released its report examining plans to privatise London’s Fire Service Training and Control Centre. The report highlights the poor performance of previous Public Private Partnerships, finding that one in five (20%) of PPP strategic partnership contracts have either been terminated, reduced in scope, or suffered significant operational and/or financial problems. This is a higher rate than for PFI projects and imposes many more risks for the London Fire and Emergency…

Prescott should take the blame for FiReControl failure, not firefighters

The Fire Brigades Union has dismissed John Prescott’s remarks on Radio 4 this morning, blaming firefighters and civil servants for the failure of the FiReControl project. Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary said: “Only a minister who doesn’t know what’s going on blames others. Prescott has no excuse. He was told by the FBU, among others. He was clearly not doing his job properly. “Instead of accepting his own central role in authoring and driving this disastrous project, he prefers to blame those who work in the service and pass the buck. “The central failing of FiReControl was political. Prescott was the prime mover and the Secretary of State who could have ended the project at…

Hands of our Pensions – Campaign Briefing

  Hands off Our Pensions Campaign Briefing – A two day briefing for FBU Officials and active members This Campaign briefing will take place on the 29th & 30th September at a central location in Basingstoke.  It will be led by   FBU Director of Education Trevor Cave & FBU National Officer Sean Starbuck. Places are strictly limited and are in short supply.  As of the 20th September there is only one place remaining. THE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICANTS WILL BE FRIDAY 23RD SEPT. If you would like to attend please email either:- Regional Education & Learning Officer kieron.hall@fbu.org.uk or Regional Secretary ricky.matthews@fbu.org.uk     Introduction   This two day briefing has been designed by…

The Fire Brigades Union criticises London Fire Brigade’s report on recent riots

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has criticised a report by the London Fire Brigade which claimed that it had enough resources to cope during last month’s riots. The report, drawn up by service bosses, showed that firefighters attended over 800 fires between 6-10 August, and that sufficient staff and fire engines were available to deal with the disturbances. But union leaders said the report attempted to hide the real story and that matters went beyond breaking point. In particular, the union has collated an abundance of evidence, which it will publish shortly, showing that: • Standard operating procedures were routinely ignored, with fewer than the stipulated number of firefighters and engines being sent to incidents…

The Fire Brigades Union criticises London Fire Brigade’s report on recent riots

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has criticised a report by the London Fire Brigade which claimed that it had enough resources to cope during last month’s riots. The report, drawn up by service bosses, showed that firefighters attended over 800 fires between 6-10 August, and that sufficient staff and fire engines were available to deal with the disturbances. But union leaders said the report attempted to hide the real story and that matters went beyond breaking point. In particular, the union has collated an abundance of evidence, which it will publish shortly, showing that: • Standard operating procedures were routinely ignored, with fewer than the stipulated number of firefighters and engines being sent to incidents…

Dangerous and ignorant right wing trash – the FBU’s verdict on Reform’s claim that further major fire service cuts are ‘manageable’

The Fire Brigades Union has condemned Reforms claim that further huge fire service cuts are manageable as dangerous right-wing trash. The FBU warns that if the Reform agenda was followed it would have a devastating impact on public and firefighter safety. FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack said: “It is dangerous and ignorant right wing trash to suggest that more cuts to an already depleted fire service are manageable. We’ve been cut to the bone already and further frontline cuts will have a devastating impact. “Reform make this claim based on the falling number of deaths in accidental dwelling fires. They put this down to smoke alarms, which do not put out fires or rescue people….

AssetCo in the high court today

AssetCo got a month stay of execution in the high court today. FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: “Privatising emergency services is stupid and dangerous. The long, slow death of AssetCo is a perfect illustration of this. We still do not know what is going to happen to London and Lincolnshire’s fire engines. They are, we believe, going to be the property of AssetCo’s creditors when AssetCo finally goes under. I call on the London Fire Brigade and the government to bring the fleet and their maintenance back into public ownership.” For further details contact Francis Beckett  020 8349 9194 07813 001372

London’s Fire Brigade urged to “learn from its mistakes” and stop new privatisation

The day before AssetCo – the troubled company which owns and maintains all London and Lincolnshire’s fire engines – faces likely winding up, the Fire Brigades Union spoke out against new plans for further privatisation of the fire service. It urged the London Fire Brigade to “learn from past mistakes.” The London Fire Brigade is leading plans to privatise the control and mobilisation service, so that when you dial 999 you will be put through to employees of a private company instead of fire brigade employees. Under the contract, the successful bidder will take on the management of call handling software, IT maintenance and support, data management and business continuity services. The Brigade also has…

Record spending by Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service on consultancy fees and employment agency payments

The Fire Brigades Union has uncovered that Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service in the first seven months of this year has spent over half a million pounds on consultancy costs and employment agency fees alone. This almost equals the entire amount spent on these services over a four year period, 2005-2009. If BFRS continue at this rate it will result in a total yearly expenditure of nearly one million pounds. At the same time as this massive increase in consultancy costs, senior managers are proposing a number of reviews incorporated within their recently published ‘Public Safety Plan’ that are specifically aimed at reducing front line costs. Should they be approved in September, it will likely…

London Fire Brigade “stretched to breaking point” during riots

The London Fire Brigade was stretched to breaking point during the recent riots, the Fire Brigades Union said today. The union statement contradicted a claim by the chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Brian Coleman, that other Brigades were not needed.  “The Brigade did not have enough fire engines, and other Brigades came in to deal with incidents in Enfield and other places. The control room was overwhelmed with the number of calls, and did not have enough staff to deal with them all” said FBU London Region executive member Ian Leahair. “Mr Coleman wants to reduce London’s firefighters, fire engines and fire stations, so he has to pretend we had enough…