FIREFIGHTERS protested outside Barnsley Town Hall this week as they called for better maternity pay for female staff - and urged the service to ‘do the right thing’ to ensure pay is not a ‘postcode lottery’.
The rally took place on Monday morning in a bid to increase maternity pay for firefighters.
It took place outside of the town hall whilst a meeting of the South Yorkshire Fire Authority took place.
The Fire Brigades Union is campaigning for twelve months of maternity leave on full pay for firefighters.
Research has found that being forced back to work too soon by low maternity pay puts firefighters’ health and safety - and their children - at risk.
The ‘Fight For 52 Weeks’ campaign has resulted in a number of services across the country increasing full maternity pay to 52 weeks.
However, South Yorkshire currently lags behind, offering only 26 weeks.
A Fire Brigades Union representative was denied permission to ask the authority whether it supports the adoption of 52 weeks full maternity pay.
Instead, firefighters addressed councillors directly outside the building.
Eight per cent of the firefighting workforce in South Yorkshire are women, and firefighters are urging their service to provide better maternity pay to aid recruitment and diversity.
Charlotte Naylor, a firefighter who attended Monday’s rally, said: “Women in the fire service deserve proper maternity pay and support.
“It is not right that a firefighter in South Yorkshire will receive half the maternity pay of a firefighter in Greater Manchester or the West Midlands.
“Refusing to listen to women firefighters will only deepen the crisis of recruitment and retention.
“South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service must catch up with other services and close the gap.”
Matt Nicholls, the FBU South Yorkshire brigade secretary, added: “Firefighters have travelled from across South Yorkshire to make our call for 52 weeks full maternity pay loud and clear.
“Decent maternity pay is vital to creating an inclusive service, which values its firefighters and protects the wellbeing of pregnant staff and new parents.
“South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service should be doing everything in their power to recruit and support more women firefighters.
“Providing adequate maternity pay is a vital first step.”
Ben Selby, the FBU assistant general secretary, added that more needs to be done to support women in the industry.
He said: “Firefighters are driving positive change in fire and rescue services across the UK, fighting dire imbalances in maternity provision.
“Women’s experience of maternity leave in the fire and rescue service matters, and employers must start listening.
“Maternity pay should not be a postcode lottery.
“The case for 52 weeks full pay is overwhelming, and all fire services must step up and provide it.”
A spokesperson for the fire service told the Chronicle: “We fully support the right of all trade unions to campaign for improved terms and conditions for their members.
“We currently offer 26 weeks maternity leave on full pay in line with national best practice and the rest of the public sector.
“Our policies are regularly reviewed in this area to ensure consistency with the rest of our sector and to help ensure we remain a family-friendly workplace for all.”
