18 March 2009
Alok Sharma, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Reading West, joined Reading East MP Rob Wilson today to express their concern at new European Union regulations that could lead to cuts in Berkshire’s fire services and force up council tax bills.
The European Parliament has voted to impose new red tape through the EU Working Time Directive – including local Labour MEP for South East, Peter Skinner, and Lib Dem MEPs Baroness Nicholson & Sharon Bowles.
If the new EU rules go ahead, workers’ rights to opt-out from the working time rules would be abolished. Employers would have to ensure workers work no more than 48 hours a week. ‘On-call’ time in the workplace, even when inactive, would be counted as working time. This will have a devastating impact on retained (part-time, professional) fighters, who double up their fire work with other jobs. Many have pagers – on call in the event of emergencies.
This will cut the number of retained firefighters on active duty, especially in rural communities. There will be reduced local fire cover, response times will increase as firefighters have to come from further away, and more full-time firefighters will be needed – pushing up the fire levy on council tax bills. The Local Government Association and Chief Fire Officers’ Association have attacked the plans.
Currently, in Berkshire, there are 132 retained firefighter posts. Only 100 posts are filled, reflecting difficulties in recruiting them. Such shortages would worsen if Labour Euro-MPs get their way.
Rob Wilson said, “Retained firefighters do a superb service for our community, helping tackle fires, floods and road accidents. I am very concerned at the effect of these new rules which would cut back workers’ rights to work when they choose. This red tape, backed by Labour and Liberal Democrat MEPs, would cut local fire services, put lives at risk and force up council tax across the county.”
Alok Sharma added, “It is vital that the Government stands firm on this crucial issue. Labour and Liberal Democrat MEPs need to be sent a message in the European elections that their failure to protect local fire services is not acceptable. Conservatives will stand up for Britain and our firefighters in the face of this new threat.”
The European Parliament has voted to impose new red tape through the EU Working Time Directive – including local Labour MEP for South East, Peter Skinner, and Lib Dem MEPs Baroness Nicholson & Sharon Bowles.
If the new EU rules go ahead, workers’ rights to opt-out from the working time rules would be abolished. Employers would have to ensure workers work no more than 48 hours a week. ‘On-call’ time in the workplace, even when inactive, would be counted as working time. This will have a devastating impact on retained (part-time, professional) fighters, who double up their fire work with other jobs. Many have pagers – on call in the event of emergencies.
This will cut the number of retained firefighters on active duty, especially in rural communities. There will be reduced local fire cover, response times will increase as firefighters have to come from further away, and more full-time firefighters will be needed – pushing up the fire levy on council tax bills. The Local Government Association and Chief Fire Officers’ Association have attacked the plans.
Currently, in Berkshire, there are 132 retained firefighter posts. Only 100 posts are filled, reflecting difficulties in recruiting them. Such shortages would worsen if Labour Euro-MPs get their way.
Rob Wilson said, “Retained firefighters do a superb service for our community, helping tackle fires, floods and road accidents. I am very concerned at the effect of these new rules which would cut back workers’ rights to work when they choose. This red tape, backed by Labour and Liberal Democrat MEPs, would cut local fire services, put lives at risk and force up council tax across the county.”
Alok Sharma added, “It is vital that the Government stands firm on this crucial issue. Labour and Liberal Democrat MEPs need to be sent a message in the European elections that their failure to protect local fire services is not acceptable. Conservatives will stand up for Britain and our firefighters in the face of this new threat.”
