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WILLIAMS LAUNCHES FIRE SERVICE PETITION
March 2, 2009 10:14 AM
Roger outside Brecon Fire Station
Brecon & Radnorshire's Liberal Democrat MP, Roger Williams, has launched a petition to Save the Retained Fire Service system in Wales and the UK, which is under threat from the possible removal of the 'opt-out' from the EU's Working Time Directive, which prevents employers requiring staff to work more than 48 hours per week. The European Parliament voted to scrap the opt-out, although the Council of Ministers from the Member State Governments voted unanimously to retain the opt-out, which is used by 14 other EU countries as well as the UK.
If the opt-out is removed, then the hours that firefighters spend on-call, either at work or elsewhere, will count as part of the 48 hours. As retained firefighters have contracts that require them to be available on-call for up to 120 hours per week, removing the opt-out would clearly destroy the retained system, according to Mr. Williams.
He said:
" The Liberal Democrats have led the way in raising awareness of this vital issue across the UK. In general we support the Working Time Directive but have consistently, in the European Parliament, at Westminster and in the devolved parliaments and assemblies voted for the opt-out provisions to remain, so that vital services such as the Fire & Rescue Service can be sustained in rural areas."
" 67% of fire stations in Wales are wholly staffed by retained firefighters. Many fire stations manned by full-time staff require retained staff at nights and on weekends to keep them going. So, for Wales, this is a particularly important issue and I am delighted that my colleagues in the National Assembly have instigated a debate today on this issue."
" My campaign in Brecon & Radnorshire is part of a Wales and UK-wide campaign. I am enlisting the help of local councils and communities to both raise awareness and demonstrate the support that exists for our retained firefighters and the current system. I shall be presenting the petition to Parliament and urge everyone to sign one when they get the chance. This really could be a matter of life and death."
Notes for editors: Save our Retained Fire Service petitions will be distributed to local councils, shops and post offices across Brecon & Radnorshire
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