Firefighters continue strike in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire over the weekend and Monday

Members of the Fire Brigades Union have scheduled industrial action for the following days and times:

Saturday 19 July 11am to 1pm, Saturday 19 July 11pm to 1am Sunday 20 July, Sunday 20 July 5pm to 7pm, Monday 21 July 6am to 8am and 5pm to 7pm.

Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Services have geared up eight consecutive days of strike action by the union, which started on Monday and will take the total number of strike days to 21 in the FBU’s current dispute with the government over pensions.

Since September the Service has continued to provide an emergency response to 999 calls during industrial action with its specially recruited contingency crews and firefighters who are not members of the FBU.

But while the Service’s arrangements have worked well, Nottinghamshire’s Chief Fire Officer John Buckley believes they are no substitute for the county’s full establishment of fire and rescue crews.

He said: “The Service is legally bound to ensure that contingency plans are in place and that an emergency fire and rescue response is available at all times.

“Through careful planning and implementation of these contingency arrangements, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has continued to cope with the demands placed upon it, and I commend the work of all those who have striven to ensure public safety during times of industrial action.

“However, the situation is far from ideal and, while arrangements have worked well, they are no substitute for our full strength fire and rescue provision.

“I therefore repeat my hope that the government and FBU can resume the necessary negotiations to bring this dispute to an end, and we can resume our established fire and rescue cover both in Nottinghamshire and across the country.”