The City Council Complies with Firefighters: Eight New Positions

The Alicante City Council's Government Board approved on Tuesday the Public Employment Offer, which will see eight new positions added to the Fire Prevention and Extinction Service (Speis). The government team is responding to the demands of the unions and the Alicante Firefighters Platform, who have been calling for an increase in staff to meet the service's needs in the city.

Last week, the firefighters announced the support of the workforce for the agreement reached with the council, which included this reinforcement. As a result, the agents decided to call off the protests, which included, among other measures, their refusal to participate in the special Hogueras device, which put the cremà at risk.

The agreement includes five firefighter positions and three captain positions in the Fire Extinction Service, with a budget exceeding 469,000 euros.

Additionally, according to the government team's spokesperson, Cristina Cutanda, "to maintain an adequate provision of public services, Administrations may appoint interim staff in vacant positions that arise during the budgetary exercise."

It is also established that vacancies due to retirement and urgently covered positions occupied by interim staff must be included in the public offer of the same exercise or, failing that, in the following one.

These positions are in addition to the recent reinforcements of the Speis staff, to which 15 personnel were recently added, bringing the total to 175, including base firefighters and commanders.

The Security Councillor, Julio Calero, highlights "the constant investment in strengthening the Speis staff, as well as improving the vehicle fleet, the firefighters' material resources, and the corps' parks and facilities."

In addition to the staff reinforcement, two new vehicles (a diving van and an FSV model to provide coverage in traffic accidents) were added to the Speis in May, as part of the plan to improve and renew the fleet, with the acquisition of 10 new first-response vehicles.

In the last five years, the City Council has invested nearly 10 million euros in vehicles, equipment, and renovation of the Speis facilities, which for the first time in its history has a maintenance contract for the mobile park for the period 2023-27 with a budget of 360,000 euros.

The expansion of positions is only part of the agreement between the City Council and the firefighters. Among other demands, the unions negotiated an increase in the hourly rate for structural pools and festive shifts.

Additionally, it has been recognised that firefighters were performing, according to the unions, 34 more hours a year than other municipal employees. This difference will be compensated retroactively from January 1, 2025, through additional rest or financial compensation.

Another key issue in the negotiation has been the situation of interim staff. From now on, their years of service and completed courses will be recognised.

Finally, the need to regulate the Alicante Firefighters Rescue Unit (URBA) was addressed, which includes specialised areas such as canine unit, drones, rescue in collapsed structures (BREC), and diving. With the agreement, the government team commits to unifying these units under a single decree, regulating access, training, and competencies of each specialty.