Faro Firefighters have given notice of a strike on August 20th, expected to last one month, "in view of the lack of response from the local authority and the continued deterioration of working conditions".
Mayor of Faro, Rogério Bacalhau, says it's a democratic right.
In a statement, the National Association of Professional Firefighters - ANBP, informs that the Algarve Regional Secretariat of the association and the National Union of Professional Firefighters (SNBP), discussed "various difficulties that these professionals face on a daily basis" during a plenary meeting on Friday.
The ANBP highlights the lack of updating of the salary scale and retroactive payments for Faro Firefighters; the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that "continues to expose them to asbestos dust and vehicle fumes, despite promises of a solution by the Mayor of Faro"; the scheduling of two days of vacation for each night of work, "a situation that persists despite the municipality's promise"; in addition to the lack of personnel "which continues to be a critical concern, seriously compromising the Fire Department's response capacity."
The association also says that the recruitment competition currently underway has been halted, with five vacancies remaining, "which, by all indications, may be lost due to the municipality's inaction."
Regarding the Faro Firefighters' fleet, the ANBP states that it currently has a fully operational urban firefighting vehicle, but that the forestry vehicle is out of service, and the rural vehicle, over 40 years old, is in an obsolete state. The firefighters are demanding better conditions for the barracks facilities: "The men's barracks are located next to the vehicle park without any gas and smoke detection devices or security doors, there is a lack of uniforms, and the changing rooms and lockers are in poor condition," the statement reads.
The mayor of Faro said that better conditions have been created for firefighters since his first term: "We've provided training, promoted progress, acquired a lot of equipment, we have a vehicle purchased a year and a half ago for half a million euros, which we're waiting for to be delivered. Of course, there are always things missing, but I'm calm about that."
Rogério Bacalhau highlighted that the Municipality is developing a project for a new barracks, "that will take two or three years, but we have just remodeled the entire barracks, in September we will inaugurate it, so everyone takes the position they want, democracy is like that", he concluded.
Source https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/
