Deeside Firefighter’s Start a Weekend of Industrial Action

North Wales Fire and Rescue chief Simon Smith is urging people to take care over the bank holiday weekend as firefighters take further strike action in a row over pensions.

Firefighters during recent action – Picture: Wrexham.com

The first of the strikes starts today with more action planned for Saturday and Sunday.

The number of firefighters from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service  expected to make a protest by striking is high.

It means there will be a reduction in the resources and, as a consequence, the fire and rescue service will not be able to provide the same high level of response to fires and other emergencies that it normally would.

The priority will be to respond to life critical incidents.

NWFRS has arrangements in place to continue to provide a service during strike action but because of the circumstances, services may be limited.

Strike action times:

• A strike on Friday between 12:00 and 17:00 BST
• A strike on Saturday between 14:00 and 02:00 BST
• A strike on Sunday between 10:00 and 15:00 BST
• A ban on voluntary overtime from 15:00 BST on Sunday until 12:00 BST on Friday 9 May

Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack said:

“Several members of government were only too keen to praise firefighters during the winter floods, but their words amount to nothing when they simultaneously ignore issues that threaten the future of firefighters and their families.”

North Wales Fire Chief Simon Smith said:

“The Fire Brigades Union has chosen to strike at a time when the risk to people’s safety is inherently more significant.

“The call for people to be extra vigilant and to think more carefully about the situations they may be putting themselves into is therefore a very serious one.”

“I would ask that residents take extra care to prevent fires in their home”

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