‘Bringing in temporary cover is fine with us’
Saturday 7th February 2009, 9:29AM GMT.
THE airport firefighters’ union has denied blocking attempts to bring in temporary cover.
Travellers face a second weekend of disruption because of the firefighters’ inability to provide minimum cover for the largest aircraft.
The Public Services Department said it had tried to draft cover in, but Unite had not cooperated.
‘They [PSD and the Public Sector Remuneration Committee] have had six months to sort this out with local airport firefighters and they waited until the last weekend to start worrying about overtime cover,’ said Unite regional industrial organiser Ron Le Cras (pictured).
A six-month agreement to provide minimum cover, for which firefighters were paid £1,000 each, ran out last Saturday and flights had to be cancelled the following day when the firefighters’ shift was not at full strength.
‘As far as we’re concerned there is no requirement for the airport fire service to guarantee overtime cover and that is what hasn’t been addressed in the past six months,’ said Mr Le Cras.
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I don’t know where your headline comes from – it is not in the story and as far as rumour goes, the Union leader is exactly the person holding up such a move.
I understand he was at a conference in Bristol all week refusing to help to sort out this mess and is having a weekend off as well.
I don’t think Ron Le Cras cares a dam how many people’s holidays, medical treatment, and other necessary travel plans he upsets.
It is time for some cooperation. The firefighters have made their point.
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I heard a rumour that Alderney offered to lend Guernsey a fireman for the day. It would have been a good training day for one of ours and kept your airport open ?!!
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