Lib Dems Support Retained Firefighters

9.53.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 6th Apr 2009

Liberal Democrats are calling on Government to renegotiate the opt-out from the EU Working Time Directive, to avoid problems with retained firefighters in Oxfordshire. At the Council meeting tomorrow they will be asking the Cabinet to write to HM Government about the threat this causes to Oxfordshire's fire and rescue services and to urge them to fight for the opt out clause to be retained.

The EU Directive limits working hours to 48 a week - which sounds worthwhile - but this will include the time spent by a firefighter "on call", ie not attending a fire but available to be called to one. For this reason, the UK negotiated an opt out of this Directive - but it appears that this will now cease.

Cllr Lesley Legge said, "For people, especially in rural areas, retained firefighters can literally mean the difference between life and death. Retained firefighters usually have full time jobs outside the fire service. As a second job, they spend up to 120 hours per week "on call" in their own homes or at their regular workplaces.

"If the opt out is lost, many retained firefighters could leave, resulting in a reduced service from Oxfordshire fire stations or an increased cost to the taxpayer as they will have to be replaced with full-time officers."