UNION CLAIMS MANAGEMENT IS IGNORING CULTURE REVIEW FINDINGS

MORE than 200 firefighters and supporters rallied outside the headquarters of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service in Carmarthen last week, protesting against proposed changes to shift patterns.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is calling on the fire authority to scrap plans to move from the current 9-hour day and 15-hour night shifts to a system of 12-hour days and 12-hour nights.

The shift change is part of a wider restructure of the traditional “2-2-4” pattern — two day shifts, two night shifts and four rest days. Management insists the new pattern will retain the same total weekly hours (42) while being “more efficient and effective.”

But the FBU says the plan is being pushed through without proper consultation and will disproportionately impact firefighters with childcare or other caring responsibilities. The union argues the changes will negatively affect mental and physical wellbeing, especially for those already stretched by demanding workloads and staff shortages.

The protest follows a damning workplace culture review in January which described the service as an “operational boys’ club” where bullying and harassment were rife. The report called for a wholesale change in leadership culture — but union leaders say those calls have been ignored.

‘Staff pushed to exhaustion’

Tom Wass, Mid and West Wales brigade organiser for the FBU, said: “Firefighters have travelled from across the region today to rally in opposition to these 12-hour shifts. We keep the public safe around the clock, but pushing us to exhaustion and making the job incompatible with family life will only drive people out of the service.

“The huge turnout today shows how strongly firefighters feel. Senior management must stop attacking our conditions and start listening to the frontline.”

‘Trust in leadership has gone’

FBU regional secretary Duncan Stewart-Ball said the fire service was “in a state of crisis.”

“Firefighters no longer trust senior leaders,” he said. “Forcing through 12-hour shifts, especially after the ‘boys’ club’ report, is appalling.

“These changes will make it harder for women and those with caring responsibilities to stay in the job. The fire authority must hold management to account and scrap these damaging proposals if they want to start rebuilding trust.”

‘We’ve been railroaded’

Firefighters on the picket line told The Herald they felt bullied into accepting the changes.

Kirsty, who has been with the service for five years, said: “I’m hoping to start a family in the near future, and I can’t see how I’ll be able to juggle work and childcare under this new system.”

Dai, a firefighter for 11 years, added: “We’ve almost been bullied into this — they’ve completely railroaded us.”

Fire service defends proposals

In a statement, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the shift proposals were based on “improved safety” for both staff and the communities they serve.

A spokesperson said: “Other fire services have successfully implemented the 12-12 model, which provides better continuity, clearer handovers, and greater operational resilience. This is in line with recommendations from the Welsh Government and health and safety improvements.”

The service said it was “disappointed” that there had been “no meaningful progress” in talks with the union.

FBU general secretary Steve Wright said: “Firefighters already go above and beyond to keep the public safe, despite a decade of cuts. Forcing gruelling shift patterns on them will only deepen the crisis. The fire authority must scrap these plans immediately.”