Firefighter union considering 'all options' in fight against cuts

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has warned the Scottish Government it is considering all options to save jobs from impending cuts.

The union said it will not tolerate the “decimation” of the service, with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) required to make £11 million of cuts this year.

FBU national executive committee member Colin Brown wrote to community safety minister Siobhian Brown, stating that the union will continue to resist the cuts and will hold to account “politicians who are responsible”.

Brown said: “You are the government minister with direct responsibility for the Fire and Rescue Service, you must stop hiding behind the management of the SFRS and take your role seriously.

“This situation is not as you have previously claimed down to ‘operational decisions’ by SFRS management, this crisis has been brought about as a direct consequence of the declining real terms budget the service has been allocated by the Scottish Government over the next four years.”

Under operational changes set out by the SFRS, the service must make £11m of savings this year and a further £11.3m of savings in 2024/25.

Stations across the central belt have been targeted with fire appliance numbers being cut and jobs lost, with 1,100 jobs being cut from the service in the last decade, the FBU said. 

On Thursday, firefighters will demonstrate against the cuts in Glasgow's George Square.

A spokesperson from the Scottish Government said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is a vital service which is why, despite difficult financial circumstances due to UK Government austerity, we are providing it with more than £368 million this year, an increase of £14.4 million on 2022/23.

“We are also maintaining front-line services, with a higher number of firefighters in Scotland than other parts of the UK and firefighters recently accepted an improved pay offer.”