A team of senior fire officers known as "chaperones" will be used to tackle front-line incidents in the event of crews going on strike in Greater Manchester. They will be joined by "stand-in" firefighters recruited partly in case of industrial action.
The Manchester Evening News understands that 19 high-ranking officers will be put on operational duty. Crews made up of Emergency Fire Cover staff will join them in manning fire engines.
In 2014, about 100 stand-in firefighters manned 21 fire engines in the region during strike days in a long-running dispute over pensions, with similar contingency measures now being drawn up in the event of strikes this year.
One source said: "Nineteen senior officers, they are calling chaperones, will be used on the pumps. Some are having to be retrained in the use of the latest breathing apparatus equipment.
"In addition, as by law the fire service has to have a contingency plan in place, there will be Emergency Fire Cover firefighters. They are on a retainer and are used when required. Industrial action will see them being used."
READ MORE: Firefighters 'struggling with cost of living crisis' and 'raw pay deal', says Andy Burnham
The source added: "In addition the fire service will also recruit HGV drivers to drive fire engines. How this will all work is still under discussion. One option is for each of the 19 senior officers to be in charge of an engine, or the service may choose to operate a smaller number of appliances on strike days. If strikes do take place major calls will have to take priority.
"If the fire service or another emergency service declared a major incident firefighters on strike would have to go back to work."
As reported in the Manchester Evening News, members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) backed walkouts by 88 per cent on a huge turnout of 73 per cent after earlier rejecting a 5 per cent pay offer. The union said it was giving the Government and employers 10 days to make an improved offer before deciding its next move. No proposed dates have been given yet.
Asked if it was correct that senior managers and "stand-in" crews were to be used in Greater Manchester if firefighters went on strike, Ed Burrows, Regional Secretary of the FBU, said: "We believe so. It should be pointed out that they (stand-in firefighters) are not fully trained and many will not do much more than put water through a window. We believe the service will be putting the public at greater danger and those staff carrying out this role. We do not know what cover they will have."
Responding to GMFRS and Greater Manchester Combined Authority's refusal to discuss contigency plans, he said: "No surprise, probably because like many services it is inadequate cover."
Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, says firefighters are 'struggling with the cost of living crisis' following a 'raw pay deal'. He said the fire service has 'not necessarily been prioritised in the past' and workers are 'worrying about what's going on' with their own family budgets.
Mr Burnham cited that the Home Office said last year they 'would not fund' a pay increase for firefighters and that this would have to be done on a local level. It was announced last week that Burnham would freeze one part of the council tax bill - but that more money will be contributed towards the police and fire service.
He proposed a 7 per cent increase in the part of the bills which goes towards the fire service - towards the upkeep of stations, engines and firefighters, blaming 'record high inflation and energy costs' and a lack of support from central government.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority has declined to discuss the nature of its contingency plans should fire crews strike.
One Greater Manchester firefighter said: "The 5 per cent offer is a non starter, when you take into account the cost of living. If we were to get the same kind of offer which is being suggested for London firefighters - 11 per cent - we would get back round the table."
The Fire Brigades Union has described a new Government bill requiring a ‘minimum’ level of service during industrial action as an ‘attack on Britain’s Covid heroes’.
New laws set will require ambulance staff, firefighters and railway workers to provide a set level of service whilst striking. Business Secretary, Grant Shapps, said the bill is a ‘common-sense’ response to recent industrial unrest.
Matt Wrack, General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said potential walkouts were a 'last resort' but that the current offer on the table would mean 'significant cuts' to real term wages.
He said: "People become firefighters because they want to help people and serve their communities - but our members have been pushed to breaking point by more than a decade of falling pay and cuts to the service.
"The FBU has reached an agreement with Fire and Rescue Service employers nationally to provide cover for major incidents, and that agreement is managed locally.
“The responsibility for contingency planning for strikes lies with Fire Service employers. In every fire strike in recent years, Ministers and chief fire officers have assured the public that they are happy with the level of cover in those circumstances. We are not involved in those discussions.
"The responsibility for this mess lies with government ministers and with fire service employers. We registered our pay claim in May 2022, and we’ve been looking for a negotiated settlement ever since. The only way to resolve this situation is for the government and fire service employers to urgently come forward with a decent offer on pay.”
