Alicante City Council Unions Support Firefighters' Platform

Firefighters' Platform in Alicante has gained the backing of all unions present in the City Council's Personnel Board. SEP, CCOO, FESEP, UGT, and CSIF have signed a statement expressing 'our firm and resolute support for the Firefighters' Platform of Alicante and their legitimate demands for decent working conditions and an emergency service worthy of the citizens'.

The unions thus join the demands of the Alicante City Council's Fire Prevention, Extinction, and Rescue Service (SPEIS) staff, who have submitted a document to the Security Councillor demanding improvements in working conditions, salaries, and equipment. This document is reportedly signed by over 120 of the 178 firefighters.

The unions' statement commits to being the voice and channel for the Firefighters' Platform's proposals, 'taking responsibility to bring their demands to the negotiation tables'. They also urge the City Council to act immediately, addressing the Platform's demands and denouncing the 'neglect of interim staff'.

They also endorse some of the firefighters' demands, such as adequate provision of material and human resources to ensure personnel safety and service quality for citizens. They call for dignified working conditions for all firefighters, with stability, rights, and professional recognition.

Additionally, the unions have expressed their support for any legal actions taken by the group, in reference to accusations of 'violent assault' regarding the protest held at the March City Council meeting and the threat of disciplinary action against participants by the government team.

'It's time for the City Council to listen, act, and stop turning a blind eye. The safety of Alicante and the dignity of its firefighters cannot wait any longer,' concluded the unions.

The spokesperson for the Government Team, Cristina Cutanda, emphasized in a press conference following the Board meeting that the disciplinary and sanctioning proceedings against the firefighters involved in the protest are ongoing.

The councillor noted after the meeting, 'We wonder how far that group of firefighters intended to go in their struggle and aggressive push against the officers, because if they had managed to break and bypass the police cordon, we don't know what could have happened.'