Job cut protest by firefighters

Sixteen posts will go at two city fire stations

Firefighters in Dundee will be staging a protest against plans to cut 16 jobs.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU), which is organising Monday's demonstration, has said lives would be at risk if the posts were lost.

The posts are going at the Blackness and Balmossie stations, but they will not be compulsory redundancies.

Tayside Fire and Rescue Service has said that the level of community safety and emergency response would not be affected by the changes.

Jim Malone, from the FBU, told the BBC Scotland news website: "It's not rocket science, if you have fewer fire engines attending 999 incidents, with fewer firefighters it's got to have a knock-on effect.

"If fire engines have got to be mobilised from other areas that's got to have an affect on their area.

"It's a retrograde step by the chief fire officer (CFO) and it's something we will lobby hard now with politicians.

FBU campaigns often use the safety of the community as a front for the defence of their members Stephen Hunter Chief Fire Officer

"We'll also meet with the CFO and we'll attempt to reverse this decision."

Tayside fire officials have said they have to make savings to fund the pay rises awarded to firefighters since 2003 as part of an industrial dispute settlement.

The FBU claims efficiencies have already been made, and has questioned the level of pay increases awarded to senior managers.

However, chief fire officer, Stephen Hunter, believes further efficiencies can be achieved by introducing an Aerial Rescue Pump which can perform the functions being provided by two vehicles.

Mr Hunter said: "It must be remembered at times such as this that the purpose of Tayside Fire and Rescue and the purpose of the Fire Brigades Union are markedly different.

"The purpose of Tayside Fire and Rescue is to provide the highest standard of community safety and emergency response services to the communities we serve whilst demonstrating value for taxpayers' money.

"The purpose of the Fire Brigades Union is to defend, above all, their members whilst at work, including defending the number of members they have, regardless of the cost to the taxpayer."