Firefighters alarmed at privatisation plans

Firefighters and fire authority workers are raising the alarm at plans to privatise firefighter training in London.

The fire authority, led by Tory Brian Coleman, has voted to recommend the plan.

The final decision lies with Tory mayor Boris Johnson.

The privatisation is one issue in the FBU union’s current dispute with the authority.

The union is currently running an overtime ban.

The Unison union, which represents fire authority workers, have also spoken out against the plans.

It struck as part of the 30 November pensions action.

Coleman and the Tories claim that there is “no money” for in-house training.

Yet they have millions to spend on privatisation—and voted at the meeting to hand over £30 million of reserves to fund the Metropolitan police.