London firemen accept new shift patterns

FIREFIGHTERS have overwhelmingly accepted revised working conditions.

Barking and Dagenham firemen staged two 24-hour strikes last year and planned to walk out on Bonfire Night over plans to replace nine-hour day and 15-hour night shifts with 12-hour shifts.

Fire brigade chiefs threatened to sack London firefighters unless they signed contracts.

But 86 per cent of Fire Brigades Union members voted in favour of new 10.5 hour day and 13.5 hour night shifts.

Fire brigade chiefs are to endorse the new working conditions on January 13.

London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said: “I’m really pleased with the outcome of the ballot, which looks likely to offer a resolution that will bring this longstanding dispute to an end.”

FBU chief Ian Leahair said: “We’re pleased that a sensible compromise has been achieved.”