Firefighters upset about allowance cut

 

Firefighters were left disappointed on Wednesday after a meeting with Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade Stewart Beckford to address remuneration took a downward turn.

 

Firefighters from several stations, including Half Way Tree, Rollington Town and Trench Town, were called to the meeting.

 

Speaking with Radio Jamaica News, a firefighter said he was informed of the removal of the call-out allowance and matters surrounding overtime during the meeting.

 

Corporal Leo Bennett said the meeting ended when he and some of his colleagues began recording the session.

 

"We had a right to capture the information being provided to us because we can't go into September not knowing all our children's school fee will be paid, how our Probox insurance will be paid. We have a situation right now where the Toll Authority would have increased the toll rates and most of us live in the Portmore region, Old Harbour region. We live in a real world where the cost of daily living affects us all. We are appealing to the Prime Minister, Andrew Holness himself, to the Opposition Leader, Mark Golding, here the cries of the firefighters. We cannot accept any reduction in our salary right now," he pleaded.

 

Calls from Radio Jamaica News to the commissioner went unanswered.

 

Radio Jamaica News understands that the union representing firefighters will be meeting on Thursday.