Essex fire crews to vote on strike action
12:42pm Wednesday 23rd May 2012 in News By Matt Abbott
THE Chief Fire Officer in Essex has urged firefighters to think carefully before they cast their vote in a ballot over strike action.
Firefighters across Essex are to vote on potential strike action from today as ballot papers are sent out.
By law, crews cannot strike before June 20, seven days after the ballot closes but industrial action could be taken on or soon after this date.
The Essex Fire Brigade Union says the ballot is necessary because the fire authority is imposing changes whilst also planning further cuts.
If proposed cuts to crews are implemented, it would mean that since 2008, one in five frontline fire crews have been cut.
Firefighter response times in Essex are already down one minute on the national average since 2008 and Essex FBU is warning that response times might increase again with the next wave of budget cuts.
In Thurrock, a wholetime specialist rescue crew has already been removed from Grays since 2008 and Del Godfrey-Shaw is concerned that there could be more cuts in the future.
Mr Godfrey Shaw, a firefighter at the Grays station and regional official for the FBU said: “We can’t specifically say where job cuts will be. It could be any where where managment may reduce watch.
“That could be here in Thurrock, it could be in Tendring it could be anywhere. We don’t know.
“There is lots of uncertainty and lots of frustration amongst firefighters here.”
The FBU say that whilst there have been cuts to front line fire crews, millions of pounds of tax payers money is being spent on expansion of the headquarters.
In a short video to firefighters, David Johnson, the Essex Fire Brigade chief officer called potential strike action “unfair on communities we serve”. He said: “We are a very good fire rescue service with some of the best firefighters and best equipment in the world.
“I need you to work with me to keep that going. We are ready to sit down and talk to to the FBU to resolve this dispute.
“I would urge you to support us in that.”
Mike Rogers, FBU brigade secretary said: “Essex fire crews are furious at what is going on and will be giving their verdict on cuts and imposed changes.
“Managers need to get their heads out of the sand and realise the strength of feeling.
“There is still time enough to resolve the issues between us and we are now asking the Chair to the Fire Authority to use his good offices to remove the barriers to serious talks getting underway.”
Source: www.thurrockgazette.co.uk
Essex: Police hunt masked burglars who left victim in a cupboard - essexcountystandard.co.uk
Essex: Police hunt masked burglars who left victim in a cupboard
5:42pm Wednesday 23rd May 2012 in Countywide news
Detectives have appealed for information following a burglary at a west Essex golf club in which a member of staff was threatened and left tied up in a cupboard.
Two masked men armed with a knife and crowbar called at the home of a caretaker and forced him to open the clubhouse at North Weald golf course in Rayley Lane, North Weald.
The thieves escaped with a safe, cash from tills and a number of golf trophies.
Police were called to the scene at about 11.50pm on Tuesday May 22 after the caretaker managed to free himself and raise the alarm.
It is believed that the thieves struck about an hour to 90 minutes earlier.
The caretaker was taken to hospital and treated for shock before being allowed home.
Detectives now want to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious activity near the golf course, especially along the fence near the driving range where the thieves are thought to have got on to the site.
Anyone who can help should contact DS Patrick Mullan at Harlow Target Offender Team on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
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Source: www.essexcountystandard.co.uk
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