has been urged to take
immediate action to address the unacceptable conditions faced by
female firefighters across Scotland.
In a scathing letter, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said
revelations about the experiences of female firefighters has
produced profound dismay and anger. The union has highlighted to
the First Minister the humiliating experiences of female
firefighters who are forced to change in cupboards and go home to
use the toilet due to the lack of adequate facilities at fire
stations.
These revelations, brought to light by the Sunday Mail newspaper,
serve as a stark reminder of the persistent gender inequality
that continues to plague Scottish society.
The FBU are clear that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has a
responsibility to provide its employees with a safe and dignified
working environment, regardless of their gender. Denying female
firefighters this basic right is an insult to their
professionalism and dedication.
, FBU Scotland Women’s Rep
said the Union believes that the lack of adequate facilities is
creating a "culture of exclusion" that drives women away from the
service, raising concerns about the impact on recruitment and
retention of female firefighters.
The chronic shortfall in funding from the Scottish Government is
identified as the root cause of this problem. The failure to
recognise the situation in the capital budget for fire stations
adds insult to injury.
The revelations also follow publication of the FBU’s landmark
Firestorm report which revealed widespread concerns about the
state of Scotland’s Fire and Rescue Service.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
Scots female firefighters changing in cupboards and sharing
toilets with men as service can't afford facilities - https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scots-female-firefighters-changing-cupboards-31415189
Firestorm Report - https://www.fbu.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/FBU%20-%20FIRESTORM%20REPORT%20-%20FINAL.pdf
TEXT OF FULL LETTER
Dear First Minister,
I am writing to express my profound dismay and anger at the
unacceptable conditions that women firefighters in Scotland face,
as recently highlighted by the Sunday Mail newspaper.
The revelations that women have to change in cupboards and go
home to use the toilet during training due to the lack of
adequate facilities at fire stations are not only deeply
humiliating but also a stark reminder of the persistent gender
inequality that continues to be present in our
society.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has a responsibility to
provide its employees with a safe and dignified working
environment, regardless of their gender. The fact that many of
our women firefighters are being denied this basic right is an
insult to their professionalism and dedication.
I am particularly concerned about the impact that this
situation is having on the recruitment and retention of women
firefighters. The Fire Brigades Union believes that the lack of
adequate facilities indirectly creates a "culture of exclusion"
making it impossible to achieve a diverse workforce. I also
believe that the lack of adequate showering facilities is more
likely to cause women firefighters to travel home to shower in
order to decontaminate after occupational exposure to
carcinogens, with potentially devastating long term health
implications for both them and their families.
The chronic shortfall in funding from the Scottish Government
is clearly at the root of this problem. The fact that the capital
budget for fire stations has yet to recognise the situation adds
insult to injury.
I urge you, First Minister, to take immediate action to
address this issue. The Scottish Government must provide the
necessary funding to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to
ensure that all fire stations are equipped with adequate
facilities for both men and women firefighters. This is a matter
of basic justice and decency.
The Scottish people deserve a fire service that is not only
capable of responding to emergencies but also one that values and
respects its employees. I urge you to take the necessary steps to
make this a reality.
Yours sincerely,
, FBU Scotland Women’s
Rep
