Plans to cut firefighter numbers at Scots nuclear naval bases branded “reckless and dangerous” amid safety fears
Unite Scotland say they have not been consulted about Capita's plans to reduce the on-site fire response team by up to 15% at Faslane and RNAD Coulport.
Proposed plans to cut the number of firefighters based at two Scots nuclear naval bases have been branded “reckless and dangerous” by a trade union.
Unite Scotland has been informed that around 15% of the specialist workforce at the Royal Navy’s Faslane and RNAD Coulport are set to be axed.
A total of eight positions are believed to be at risk after the Ministry of Defence contract for fire response services at the sites was won by Capita in 2020.
The union says they have not been consulted on details of the plans but understands that the firm will ask nearby fire stations to back fill the specialist safety response.
Debbie Hutchings, Unite industrial officer, said: “Unite has major concerns over the imposed plan by Capita to reduce the fire crew at the Coulport and Faslane nuclear naval bases by eight positions.
“The plans to reduce the fire crew and to replace it with local authority support is a recipe for disaster.
“The decision by Capita appears to have been brought forward purely on a cost basis and the unrealistic expectation that the local authority can back fill these cuts, which is just not possible because specialist training is required at the nuclear naval bases.
“We believe these plans are worse than short sighted and in fact potentially dangerous, which is why we are asking Capita to abandon this reckless plan and get back to negotiations."
Unite is already in an existing pay and bargaining dispute at Coulport and Faslane following ‘overwhelming’ support for strike action from its 1000-strong membership.
Last week, members voted by 95% in support of strike action on an aggregated 65% turnout across the three different entities at the bases (Babcock Industrial, Babcock Non-Industrial and ISS Facility Services).
The strike action will also be held in conjunction with a continuous call out ban and ban on all overtime set to begin on March 12.
A Capita spokesperson: “We have conducted a thorough review of fire risks at Faslane and Coulport, which considered many factors before we put forward recommendations - including the investment in new technology we are making that will reduce fire risk and improve safety.
“The report’s recommendation to adjust resourcing levels was ultimately approved by the Ministry of Defence.
“This followed four successful confirmatory exercises by our on-site fire station crews.
“We are committed to the delivery of better fire risk outcomes for the Ministry of Defence, its personnel, and our firefighters.”
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A MOD spokesperson added: “This is a matter for Capita Fire and Rescue who run the fire and rescue services at the base and are responsible for how they are delivered.
“The Defence Fire and Rescue contract is modernising the defence firefighting force with new vehicles, technology and training to provide a safer environment for both the fire fighters and those they protect.”
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