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13 July 2007
New shift lengths agreed between West Yorkshire fire chiefs and unions could mean a 284,000-hour productivity increase.
The nine-hour day and 15-hour night shift system has been in operation since 1978 but is due to change to an 11-hour day and 13-hour night pattern in January 2008.
The revised shift lengths potentially release 284,000 hours a year for staff to carry out vital fire safety work.
Chief Fire Officer Phil Toase described the agreement as ‘marking a positive way forward.’
In cash terms, the increase in productivity will equate to £2.8m. a year.
“Discussions on varying shift lengths began in the spring of 2006 and have been extremely complex,” he said. “Both sides recognised the need to look at the structure of the working day but recognised that radical change could present individuals with significant domestic and childcare problems.
“It’s a great tribute to all members of the negotiating team that they have come up with a win-win solution.”
Councillor Graham Kirkland, who chairs the Personnel and Training Committee, said that the changes underlined comments made by the Audit Commission recently that West Yorkshire was one of the top performing brigades in the country. “This is a great example of employers and employees working co-operatively to find better and more efficient ways of working that are clearly in the public interest,” he added.