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Welsh Government rejects UK’s controversial Fire Service strike regulations

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THE WELSH GOVERNMENT’S rejection of the UK Government’s minimum service levels for the fire and rescue services has been met with strong support from the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), highlighting the depth of opposition to what is perceived as the most significant attack on the union’s ability to strike since its inception over a century ago.

In detailed communication, the FBU outlined the stringent regulations imposed by the UK Government’s Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023, received with royal assent on 20 July 2023. These rules, aimed exclusively at England, compel fire and rescue services to maintain operations during strikes as if it were a normal working day. Specifically, the legislation mandates that a minimum of 73% of fire appliances be staffed, and control rooms function fully, regardless of ongoing strike actions.

During a strike in 2002, ‘Green Goddesses’ were operated by military personnel to tackle blazes

The FBU has condemned these regulations as a severe infringement on workers’ rights, designed to undermine the effectiveness of strikes. This sentiment is further echoed in the response of Hannah Blythyn, Welsh Deputy Minister for Social Partnership, who criticised the Act as an “unworkable intrusion” into devolved matters, affirming the Welsh Government’s refusal to implement such measures.

The backdrop to this controversy includes the FBU’s recent history of negotiation and industrial action.

Last year, amidst a wave of strikes in other services, the FBU managed to settle a national pay dispute without resorting to strikes, a result overwhelmingly supported by its members.

However, the new legislation threatens to severely restrict the union’s ability to conduct future strikes effectively.

Critically, the regulations introduce the concept of ‘work notices’, identifying specific workers required to maintain minimum service levels during a strike.

Failure to comply with these notices exposes workers to potential dismissal, while the FBU faces substantial fines. These measures have been denounced as draconian by union leaders and members alike.

The scope of the Act currently extends only to England, with the possibility of future regulations affecting other devolved administrations.

Yet, the explicit rejection of the legislation by the Welsh and Scottish governments has highlighted a significant devolution dynamic in the UK’s approach to industrial relations. The Northern Irish administration has also opted out of applying the legislation.

The imposition of these regulations has not gone unchallenged within England. The FBU points to the recent train drivers’ strikes, where no work notices were issued by any train operating company, as a precedent for resistance.

The union is urging fire and rescue authorities in England to commit not to issue work notices, drawing on solidarity and the potential for prolonged strike action to deter such measures.

The Conservative government bears the primary responsibility for these restrictions, with indications that some senior figures within the fire and rescue service have collaborated in designing the new measures.

This collaboration has been met with criticism from FBU members, questioning the mandate of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) in endorsing these laws.

Amid these developments, the Westminster government maintains that the regulations are necessary to ensure public safety during strikes.

This stance is contested by the FBU, which argues that the government’s genuine concern for public safety would be better demonstrated through sustained investment in the fire and rescue service rather than restricting workers’ rights.

As the debate continues, the FBU is mobilising opposition to the minimum service levels, calling on fire and rescue authorities, MPs, and candidates in the upcoming general election to oppose the legislation.

With Labour pledging to repeal the regulations if elected, the battle over minimum service levels and the right to strike in the fire and rescue service is set to intensify in the lead-up to the next general election.

This development underscores the broader tensions between the UK Government’s push for restrictions on industrial action and the resistance from unions, devolved governments, and workers.

Community

Showmen’s lucky scape as fairground lorry bursts into flames

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A FIRE broke out in the cab of an articulated lorry at Pembroke Fair in the early hours of Sunday (Mar 16), prompting a call-out for Pembroke Dock firefighters.

Showmen sleeping in their caravans at the Commons had a lucky escape when their generator truck caught fire in the middle of the night. By the time the alarm was raised, the vehicle was already well alight.

Thanks to the swift actions of those at the scene, the blaze did not spread to nearby caravans—a potentially deadly situation due to the presence of sleeping occupants and Calor Gas bottles used for heating and cooking.

The incident occurred near Commons Road, Pembroke, with Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) receiving the call at 2:42am.

A MAWWFRS spokesperson said: “The crew responded to a vehicle fire involving the cab of an articulated lorry.

“The main fire was out on the crew’s arrival, and firefighters used one hose reel jet to dampen down the area. A thermal imaging camera was deployed to check for remaining hot spots.

“Safety information and guidance were given to the vehicle’s driver.

“The crew left the scene at 3:18am.”

No injuries were reported.

(Pictures: File images)

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Community

Native oyster success story on the Milford Haven Waterway

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AFTER more than a year of careful rearing, thousands of juvenile native oysters have now been returned to the Milford Haven Waterway, marking a major milestone in an ambitious restoration project involving the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

Since the project began in late 2023, Bangor University’s School of Ocean Sciences has been nurturing native oyster broodstock collected from Angle Bay and Burton Ferry. These oysters spawned multiple times in controlled conditions, producing hundreds of thousands of larvae. The tiny larvae were then reared until they were ready to settle on to shells, where they mostly remain fixed as they grow. Some scallop shells held as many as 160 individual oyster spat, ranging from 4mm to 10mm in size.

In February, an estimated 200,000 baby oysters were released into the Waterway by students from Paddle West. Braving a strong easterly wind, the team (assisted by Sky the dog, and with rescue cover support from Rudders Boatyard) successfully deposited the oysters onto the seabed. While not all will survive, many are expected to take hold and contribute to the recovery of the native oyster population.

Once abundant in UK waters, native oyster populations have dramatically declined due to habitat loss, pollution, over-harvesting and disease

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority Biodiversity Officer, Sarah Mellor, said “This collaborative project is a major step forward for native oyster restoration in Wales. Achieving complex native oyster reefs once again in the Daugleddau may seem a distant dream, but this project has accelerated our learning and made the dream tangible. These oysters will play a vital role in improving water quality, storing carbon and creating habitat for marine life.”

To further support the restoration effort, some of the oyster-covered scallop shells have been placed into oyster hotels at Rudders Boatyard, where they will be closely monitored. Atlantic Edge Oysters will also oversee a selection of the young oysters to assess their growth rates.

The oysters will be tracked as part of the Natur am Byth! Mòr restoration project, delivered by the Marine Conservation Society with assistance from Sue Burton, the Pembrokeshire Marine SAC Officer.

Sue said,“Native oyster restoration needs oyster suppliers and growers, and this project has proved that we can deliver this in Wales with our home-grown native oysters and expertise.”

The project is being delivered in partnership with Bangor University, the Pembrokeshire Marine SAC Officer and Tethys Oysters in Angle Bay. It forms part of the Blue Carbon Strand of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s Wild Coast! Sustainable Landscapes, Sustainable Places Programme, funded by the Welsh Government and co-ordinated by Tirweddau Cymru Landscapes Wales.

The restored oysters will now be closely monitored to assess their survival and growth, helping to inform future restoration efforts and strengthen the long-term recovery of the species in the Milford Haven Waterway.

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Oriel y Parc opens its doors to a world of peace and tranquillity

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An exhibition featuring the work of two leading artists and illustrators is to open at the National Park Discovery Centre in St Davids.

Featuring the work of Jackie Morris and Elly Morgan, ‘Tangnefedd Rhyngom: Peace Between Us’  invites visitors to explore the theme of peace, creating an opportunity for people to pause, reflect and connect with the quiet beauty of the world around them.

The exhibition brings together two distinct approaches to peace.  Jackie Morris – illustrator, artists and writer best known for The Lost Words and The Lost Spells – presents a series of prints depicting painted doves, using her signature style to convey peace as a dynamic force.  In contrast, Elly Morgan, known for her intricate ceramic work, offers a tactile interpretation of peace through her ceramic doves which draw inspiration from Pembrokeshire’s  natural landscapes.

Elly Morgan’s Wings of Peace

On World Poetry Day (March 22), Jackie Morris will host a talk and a question and an answer session which will provide a deeper insight into the exhibition as well as  themes that inspire her work.  The free event will take lace between 2 pm and 3 pm. 

Meanwhile Elly Morgan will lead a family-friendly workshop from 11 am to 3 pm on Sunday, March 23.  The drop-in invites participants of all ages to contribute to a collaborative installation using recycled materials and acrylic paints.

The exhibition will be on display at Oriel y Parc until Sunday, April 27.

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