Firefighters' union welcomes end of dispute

The changes will come in to force from January

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has welcomed an agreement over changes to working hours following an 18-month dispute between it and fire service chiefs.

From January full-time firefighters in Gloucestershire will work 10-hour day shifts and 14 hour stretches overnight.

Gloucestershire County Council (GCC), which is responsible for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS), said the agreement shows the "renewed spirit of collaboration between the two organisations".

The FBU has said it "welcomes" the council and fire service's promise to continue to work with staff, but has warned "words are not enough" and both must "live up to their commitments".

In 2023, GFRS leaders set out an ambition to change shift patterns which would have seen day shifts increase from the current nine hours to an 11 hour pattern.

The FBU objected to the move and claimed it would have forced staff with caring responsibilities out of the service and disproportionally affect women.

At the time, the union said its members would not rule out strike action.

'Significant step forward'

Formal mediation took place over the summer and, after what a GCC report describes as two days of "intensive" talks, a resolution has now been reached.

Day shifts will take place between 08:30 and 18:30 from January and night shifts will run from 18:30 to 08:30.

It comes after the service was taken out of three years of special measures in August due to improvements in diversity, staff discipline and grievance processes.

Councillor Paul Hodgkinson, GCC cabinet member for the Fire and Rescue Service, said the changes are part of a "wider reset and refocus" for the organisation.

"Staff will be supported through this change and it will be reviewed at six and 12 months in full consultation with the FBU," he added.

"This is a significant step forward in our journey of improvement and follows the good news from a recent His Majesty's Inspectorate inspection in which the Service made great progress."

A spokesperson for the FBU said it will continue to work with the council and fire service to ensure "proper support" is given to firefighters.

"The people of Gloucestershire deserve a professional, well-resourced fire and rescue service, and our members deserve respect, fair treatment, and support," they added.

"Together, we will press for the best possible outcome for both staff and community."