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From The Socialist newspaper, 2 December 2015
FBU fights the cuts in Yorkshire
Malik J Rafidi, Selby Socialist Party
Selby Socialist Party is supporting the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in their campaign against fire service cuts in North Yorkshire, collecting 248 names to add to the FBU petition online that has gathered over 2,600 signatures.
Proposed cuts will put residents, workers and firefighters at risk across North Yorkshire with response times, crew numbers and available equipment all jeopardised.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is currently consulting on £1.2 million worth of cutbacks. These include plans to reduce crew levels and equipment at six fire stations, as well as replacing some fire engines with smaller 'response vehicles'.
The FBU has raised concerns that fire engines, which are usually mobilised within two minutes during the day, will be delayed for five to nine minutes as a result. The FBU brigade secretary says in some areas the response times will even increase by eight to 15 minutes!
Dangers
Further cuts to Selby and the support station at Tadcaster will have a massive effect, particularly in the event of a large fire. Dangers were highlighted through a fire at a nearby salad factory in September, when it was necessary to deploy firefighters from seven surrounding stations.
The decision regarding the cuts will be made on 9 December, with the FBU holding a rally and protest at the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service training centre in Easingworld.
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
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In The Socialist 2 December 2015:
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International socialist news and analysis
Greece - general strike against austerity sees mass protests
Eyewitness to the refugee crisis: a visit to 'The Jungle'
Belgium: ruling class can't be trusted with 'security'
Socialist takes third of vote in Hong Kong election
Socialist Party women
Women: fight for equality, fight for socialism
Socialist history
How the Iron Lady was reduced to iron filings
Socialist Party news and analysis
Autumn Statement u-turns: austerity can be defeated
Student nurses must pay to work
Paris climate summit falls short in world's hottest year
London ambulances in special measures due to underfunding
Workplace news and analysis
Junior doctors' strike suspended for talks
JCB redundancies mitigated but fight needed
Open Uni strikers prepared to go the distance
Bus drivers fight bully-boy managers
Water workers protest against pension attacks
Socialist readers' comments and reviews
Film review - The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2
A socialist Christmas gift guide
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Christmas 'collectathon': 8 to 17 December
Workers snap up the Socialist!
Protesters demand system change not climate change
FBU fights the cuts in Yorkshire
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