Firefighters go on strike tomorrow

Hackney’s firefighters will go on strike at 10am tomorrow morning, and will stay out until 6 pm, after the London Fire Brigade sent them all letters of dismissal on 11 August.

London Fire Brigade is proposing to change the start and finish times of duty for its frontline firefighters.

By reducing the current 15 hour night shift to 12 hours, and increasing the current 9 hour day shift to 12 hours, therefore providing a longer day shift.

“It is a terrible step to have to take” says Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack.

“But London’s firefighters feel it is the only step they can now take.”

It is the first of two days’ planned strike action; the second is on November 1.

Hackney’s firefighers in the borough’s four stations – Shoreditch, Kingsland, Homerton and Stoke Newington - have reassured residents that they will be responding to 999 calls throughout the eight hour walk-out.

They have plans in place to provide fire cover, and a fire engine will be sent to a wide range of emergencies including fires in people’s homes, vehicle fires, road accidents and collapsed buildings.

But the limited service could mean that less urgent and non life threatening incidents, including rubbish fires (including bins and skips), fires on open ground and large animal rescues could not be attended by firefighters.

London Fire Commissioner, Ron Dobson, wants all Londoners to follow a five point strike fire safety plan:

Check your smoke alarm to make sure it works, Know what to do if you have a fire – get out, stay out and call 999, take extra care when you are cooking or smoking, share fire safety – talk to friends and family and only dial 999 in a genuine emergency.