GFRS claim: Government accuses Unite of using 2015 AFRS claim in reverse

The Government has hit back at Unite on the GFRS claim accusing it of using a claim it made in 2015 in reverse. 

GFRS argues the Airport Fire & Rescue Service gets paid the same as it does despite not doing night shifts. 

Number Six says when the AFRS was transferred from the MoD to the Government, Unite fought for their grades on the basis of the GFRS grades, insisting on equal pay for equal work. 

Government says Unite can't now make the opposite claim for the GFRS and the union needs to explain the rationale. 

Although AFRS do not work night shifts, Government highlights they work unsociable hours with a minimum of 13 hours a day and a regular need for overtime.

It also points out GFRS get paid a lot more than their UK counterparts with the average firefighter pay locally being over £70,000 - in the UK this is over £42,000. 

It says Professional development allowance at GFRS has been raised from £1,500 to £6,000 but this should be met with proportional increases to professionalism and skills yet there's no formal governance oversight procedures and are not audited, while AFRS are. 

Government says there has been a lot of work on fostering joint respect and work between the two brigades and this has been undone by "a few money-minded individuals."