MoD firefighters ‘to go under the hammer in fire sale’ warns Unite
18 January 2011
Firefighters stationed at Britain’s military bases could be next
in line for the coalition’s privatisation programme, Unite, the
largest union in the country, has warned.
Nearly 1,000 firefighters on 35 bases have been told that, as
part of the government’s strategic defence review, they have been
selected to be a part of the contracting out process and could be
privatised by the end of the year.
Unite is concerned that its Ministry of Defence (MoD)
firefighter members were not consulted about the plans and that the
proposals have not been properly financially evaluated.
Unite national officer for the MoD and government departments,
Kevin Coyne, said: ”We are calling on the MoD to enter into open
negotiations about the future of the firefighters – and stop these
announcements by stealth.
”There are 950 industrial grade firefighters at 35 fire
stations; 295 of these firefighters work on American air force
bases. Ironically, the Pentagon will almost definitely ask for
these jobs to be ‘ring fenced’ - and not privatised - due to
security considerations.
”This will leave 645 firefighters at MoD bases facing being
outsourced, with the prospect of their pay and conditions being
seriously eroded.”
It is understood that the MoD is seeking cuts of 17 per cent to
the budget for firefighting on the bases. The firefighters have
started writing to their local MPs to explain the flaws in the MoD
plans.
Kevin Coyne said: ”In the coalition’s ‘cut, cut and more cuts’
world, even firefighting services, with their remit to save lives
and property, can go under the hammer to the private sector. This
is truly a fire sale.”
ENDS
Notes to the news editors:
For further information please contact Kevin Coyne on 07798 531
006 and/or Unite communications officer Shaun Noble on 07768 693
940
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