THE FIRE Authority has resorted to bully boy tactics to push through changes to shift times, according to the Fire Brigades Union.

Union bosses were stunned to learn by fax the Fire Authority will carry out a mass sacking of 744 fire-fighters across South Yorkshire on January 1 and reinstate them under a new contract which will have revised working hours.

Under the proposals, there will be a ten and a half hour day shift (9am to 7.30pm) and a 13 and a half hour night shift (7.30pm-9am).

Barnsley FBU rep Nigel Bailey said: "Fire-fighters are not happy. There are a few that have told me if their contract was terminated they will just walk away and we will be short of fire-fighters and the fire authority will be putting public safety at risk again.

Chairman of the Authority Barnsley Coun Jimmy Andrews said: "We want to continue improving services and these minor changes to working arrangements will enable us to get the most out of what we have got.

"With thousands of people in South Yorkshire having lost their jobs in recent months, it is difficult to comprehend the FBU’s opposition to this minor change of moving three hours from the night shift to the day shift.”