FIRE STRIKE TO COMMENCE ON MAY 2

People in Herts are being urged to take extra care following the Fire Brigades Union announcement of three further walkouts on May 2, 3 and 4. These strikes will take place from 12 noon to 5pm on May 3 from 2pm to 2am on May 4 and from 10am to 3pm on May 4. During these periods there will be fewer firefighters on duty across the country including Hertfordshire. Roy Wilsher, Director of Community Protection and Chief Fire Officer, said: “We are extremely disappointed that the Fire Brigades Union has announced more strikes. It’s hard to see how this is going to help resolve their dispute with the government. “This repeated strike action in a key public service is ill-conceived and the safety of the people of Hertfordshire should not be used as a bargaining tool. “Our contingency arrangements have stood up well during previous strike action, however with fewer resources our ability to respond to incidents is reduced, therefore I urge the public to play their part again and take extra care during the strike action. “We will be responding as quickly as possible to serious incidents. In the event of a fire you should still get out, stay out, and call 999 – you will get an emergency response. “We continue to hope that the government and FBU can resolve their dispute and that further walkouts can be avoided.”