4:20pm Tuesday 14th April 2009
By Gareth Palmer
AN MP has criticised moves which could hit the vital cover provided by part-time firefighters.
Colchester Lib Dem MP Bob Russell is backing a Parliamentary campaign to ensure volunteer retained firefighters can continue to serve.
Their part-time role is under threat from a recent European Parliament vote to remove the UK’s exception to the Working Time Directive.
The exception has allowed employees to choose to work more than 48 hours a week.
If it is removed, retained firefighters, most of whom have full-time jobs, would no longer be able make themselves available to answer fire calls.
Mr Russell, a member of the all-party fire safety group, called for the Government to apply “a common-sense interpretation” of the rules to protect what he says is a valuable service to the community.
He explained: “The rules are there to prevent workers being exploited by unscrupulous employers.
“We do not want them to have unintended consequences like this.
“Retained firefighters are volunteers, without whom fire cover across the country wouldn’t be at the level it is, or at the price it is.
“Colchester has a full-time fire station but we are grateful for the support of retained crews from the surrounding villages, who provide valuable back-up at major incidents.”
Mr Russell is among 22 MPs to have signed an Early Day Motion, raising concerns about the possible impact of the change on retained fire cover.
Essex and Rescue Service currently has 438 retained firefighters on its books, with a further 20 retained vacancies.
Retained stations in north Essex include those at Tiptree, Wivenhoe and West Mersea.
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