Successful end to fire talks
Firefighters in Lincolnshire have reached an agreement with their employers over shifts – averting any threat of industrial action.
Talks had been dragging on between the fire service and union bosses over new work practices.
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Fire stations will be manned 24 hours a day.
Fire chiefs had been planning to sack 112 full-time firemen before reinstating them on new contracts with different working hours.
But that will not now happen after the successful conclusion of talks between Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue and the Fire Brigades Union.
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Bosses at the fire service hailed the agreement – but expressed frustration at the length of time the talks had taken.
The agreement will mean that firefighters at four stations manned during the day – Gainsborough, Skegness, Grantham and Boston – will work on an on-call system to cover the stations 24 hours a day.
Under the current arrangement, only some firefighters based at the stations provide on-call cover – meaning part-time firemen have to help out.
For more on the talks, see Wednesday's Echo.
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