FIREFIGHTERS in South Yorkshire firefighters have called off a 48 hour strike after an offer of talks from the South Yorkshire Fire Rescue Authority (SYFRA).
The strike against bosses’ threats to sack more than 700 firefighters was set to start on Sunday.  In all the firefighters were planning to strike for a total of 10 days.  They were scheduled to walk out at 9am this Sunday (and return to work at 9am on Tuesday.)  This was to be followed by more strike action – eight days starting from January 27.

The strike is the result of an 18-month long dispute with the management of the SYFRA.  Bosses want ordinary firefighters to work new 12 hour shifts.
The SYFRA not only want to alter working times, but also to change the start and finish times of shifts, rest breaks and work routines.

At the moment South Yorkshire firefighters work 9-hour days and 15-hour nights.  Bosses want to change this to 12-hour days and 12-hour nights, creating childcare problems for workers who are expected to work hours like 8am to 8pm.

Firefighters who have refused to sign new contracts - forcing them to work the new hours - have been threatened with the sack.  Indeed, according to some reports, SYFRA bosses threated to sack the whole workforce to push through these new contracts!

Many firefighters also fear that these changes would be the thin end of the wedge.  They believe that night-time fire cover will be cut and staff levels reduced.  They are also angry that one firefighter has been sacked – with six others facing disciplinary action - for comments made on the Facebook website.