Big business needs to be stronger in its support for retained firefighters, say local Conservative politicians.
Local AM Angela Burns and parliamentary candidate Simon Hart launched a campaign to encourage more big employers to support the service after hearing about recruitment problems.
“When we toured Whitland fire station we were told the brigade struggles to staff day shifts at its retained stations, partly because employers are not willing to give staff the flexibility of going on a shout during working hours.”
Station Officer Simon Pearson explained: “The fire and rescue service not only in areas of Mid and West Wales but regionally and nationally, are suffering from a shortage of retained fire-fighters particularly during the day.”
Whitland is one of 19 fire stations throughout Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire that rely on retained firefighters to stay open.
Mrs Burns and Mr Hart have now written to several large employers in the county to ask them to clarify their policy on employing retained firefighters.
“We have heard back from Tesco, Marks and Spencer, Asda and McDonalds who all say they support staff members who are also retained firefighers,” said Mr Hart.
“However they are pretty vague about specifics, with most saying that they provide “reasonable time off” for staff to be involved in public duties.
“The problem is that you can’t book time off for a shout as you never know when it will happen.”
Angela Burns has now asked the Local Government Minister Carl Sargeant to look into the issue.
“Through visiting a number of fire stations, I found that local businesses are prepared to allow their staff to go,” she said.
“So you might have a company with only three of four members of staff that suddenly loses one in order to attend a call out. Yet, the national companies are far more difficult about this. They will not let their staff go unless they can pre-book their absence, but, of course, you cannot pre-book a fire.
“If small employers can bear the loss of a member of staff while they answer a shout then it should be even easier for these big employers,” she said.
Mr Hart added: “Retained firefighters are expected to potentially put their life on the line every time they answer a shout – the least that big employers can do is to support them in carrying out their public duty.”
S/O Pearson added: “Local employers play a pivotal role in allowing their employees, who are retained fire-fighters, to respond to emergency incidents. Who knows it could be their own premises on fire!”
*To be a retained firefighter you must be at least 18. Check out www.mawwfire.gov.uk or visit your local fire station to find out more.
