Firefighters to march through Belfast in pay protest

Northern Ireland’s firefighters are set to march through Belfast city centre on Saturday to demand better pay conditions.

The march is not only aimed at gaining a pay rise for the country’s 2,000 uniformed fire service staff, but also to have the 1977 pay formula – which linked firefighters’ earnings to those of ordinary male manual workers – replaced with a new formula.

The firefighters, who will be joined by fellow colleagues from Britain, will gather at Academy Street at 12pm and will march along Donegall Place, past the City Hall and back to Academy Street.

They will be addressed by Fire Brigades’ Union spokesperson, Jim Barbour, FBU president Mick Harper and Peter Bunting from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

Commenting on the protest, Jim Barbour said that the union was “absolutely determined” that firefighters should receive the proper salary for the “difficult and very dangerous job” they performed.

SDLP assembly member Patricia Lewsley has also expressed her support for the protest.

“There should be no more stalling on this issue – the pay formula that dictates firefighters’ wages is long outdated," she said.

"The firefighters are working in very stressful and, indeed, life-threatening conditions. These factors should be taken into consideration and their wages need to be brought into line with other emergency service workers.”

The Lagan Valley MLA also added: “Conditions are also particularly difficult for control room staff. These are qualified professionals, the majority of which are women, working under extreme pressure. There is a need for equitable treatment of these workers as well.”

(KmcA)