Firefighters strike latest

ROTHERHAM firefighters are gearing up for a second strike later this week in a row over shift changes.Picket lines were mounted across Rotherham and the rest of South Yorkshire on Monday evening as the first of two 24-hour stoppages started.Fire Brigade Un
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Oct 2009, 18:35 BST
Updated 20th Apr 2010, 13:28 BST

ROTHERHAM firefighters are gearing up for a second strike later this week in a row over shift changes.

Picket lines were mounted across Rotherham and the rest of South Yorkshire on Monday evening as the first of two 24-hour stoppages started.

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Fire Brigade Union officials expressed satisfaction with support for the action, which is against the threat to sack 744 firefighters and impose new 12-hour shifts.

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Another strike is set for Friday.

FBU regional secretary Ian Murray said: "If the fire authority drops its threat to sack firefighters, we will call off the strikes. We will enter talks without pre-conditions to reach an agreement."

Chief Fire Officer of South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Mark Smitherman said: "Let me be very clear. What the FBU are referring to as 'sacking' is the 'dismissal and re-engagement' procedure that we, like any other organisation, would have to follow in the event of no agreement being reached and new shift systems imposed. "

Related topics:RotherhamSouth YorkshireIan MurraySouth Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service