Some fire stations in Merseyside have had to temporarily close because of staffing issues as firefighters threaten strike action over their working conditions.
Several fire stations in Merseyside have temporarily closed recently as firefighters are moved between locations to cover gaps in staff due to illness or staffing needs.
On December 14, 2022, Toxteth, Wallasey, Birkenhead and the Liverpool City Centre fire stations were closed. Since the beginning of December, fire stations across Merseyside have been closed for more than 1,000 hours according to the Fire Brigades Union.
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This is because of an overtime ban brought in by the FBU, who would normally fill these gaps.
A Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said the overtime ban was “the main reason why fire engines have been becoming unavailable of late.
“We have been clear throughout this period we will not meet any demands which could result in less fire engines, less fire stations, slower response times or fewer staff in our control rooms in the long term.”
The FBU said the dispute is a result of the fire service not entering talks over different terms and conditions, lower pay, and changes to rotas for new staff. The MFRS argues the new rotas meant two fire stations in Liverpool and Wallasey didn’t temporarily close overnight.
The changes have now led to less night staff which the union argues will lead to longer call handling times that “potentially put members of the public and firefighters at an increased level of risk.”
A FBU spokesperson said: “The role map of a firefighter is negotiated and agreed upon at a national level, should Merseyside FRS wish to add additional roles they must do so through negotiation and agreement, not imposition.
“By choosing to impose additional work on firefighters, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service have completely cut the FBU out of negotiations and left us with no option but to take industrial action.
“It is completely unacceptable for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service to continue to amend the nationally agreed firefighter role map on an ad-hoc basis.”
An MFRS spokesperson said changes to staff had increased the number of staff employed with an extra two positions for busy periods to help cope with demand and had actually improved response times.
MFRS said: “Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service is twice as busy during the day than it is at night, so the changes have actually resulted in an increase in staff available during the day and a decrease at night when there are less calls.
“No member of Fire Control staff or operational staff have been compelled to accept new terms and conditions of employment. No one has or will be required to change their contract of employment because of the revisions to the operating model.
“With regards to contractual changes elsewhere, we don’t agree that these are a non-agreed expansion of the firefighter role. The contracts of employment to which the local FBU ballot makes reference have been in place since 2016. The contracts capture the Service’s response to flooding, terrorism and medical intervention, notably when asked to assist by our other emergency services, but this has always been the case.”
The fire service is funded through a mix of UK Government funding as well as local councils across the Liverpool City Region.
The MFRS said it had met with MPs to lobby the government for more funding including better pay for staff but the union believes it could already do this already.
An FBU spokesperson said: “All Merseyside FBU members are asking is that our employer abides by our nationally agreed terms and conditions of employment and treats all firefighters fairly.
“Firefighters risk their lives on a daily basis, it’s completely unacceptable for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service to expect some firefighters to do so on worse terms and conditions than others.”
The MFRS said it was working to assure people as well as protect those most vulnerable. It pointed to its risk management plan which can be found on its website.
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