Firefighters worth more (From Penarth Times)

Firefighters worth more

I AM replying with reference to the letter published a few weeks ago.

A firefighter who qualifies (as competent) after five years service, earns £21,500.

The next incremental pay rise is then after completing 15 years service, when an extra £800 is awarded.

If these figures are broken down, taking away tax, national insurance and pension (11 percent), the qualified firefighter will take home approximately £284 per week.

This, based upon a working week of 42 hours, equates to £6.76 per hour take home.

For this sum of money your fire fighters are working unsociable hours, weekends and don't forget who'll be working Christmas Day and all the other Bank Holidays of the year.

Wouldn't it be nice if they gave us a shift allowance?

Let's not also forget that the life expectancy of firefighters on the last survey indicated that it was six to eight years after retirement.

For those of you who don't know, firefighters don't just squirt water, they are multi-skilled professionals who carry out many roles and have to have a sound knowledge of varying subjects and incidents.

Your fire fighters are also qualified first aiders who will carry out resuscitation.

They may also have knocked on your door offering a home fire safety risk assessment and even fitted a smoke detector free of charge.

Are firefighters worth more? You decide!

Wayne Blatchford Sub Officer Penarth Fire Station