The Government acknowledges the GFRS’s demonstration outside Parliament this morning and notes that they have indicated a fresh willingness to meet, recognising that the Government’s firm position will not change. 

As ever, the Government is happy to meet to discuss all issues. That approach has been reiterated in every public statement we have issued on this matter, and we are pleased that Unite are now willing to do the same. 

Whilst it is in everyone’s interests to move forward constructively with a view to a de-escalation of the GFRS industrial action, the Government notes as a matter of record that:

• Unite’s actions pertaining to the GFRS have required a public apology to the AFRS;
• GFRS membership have issued statements on the Unite-backed industrial action unilaterally and not through the Union; 
• Industrial action has been delayed and now paused around holidays, although shrouded in a reference to "goodwill", which the Government will, as its own gesture of good faith, not challenge. 

It is surprising to the Government, however, that the Union should have highlighted that when your members have protested outside Convent Place there has not been a Minister or official who has come out to see them.  In fact, when the Government was in contact with Unite, they told Government that its members wished to protest and make themselves heard in pursuit of their claim, but that they did not want to have someone receive a letter or a delegation.  It is for that reason that no one has received a delegation of protesters or come out to receive a letter from them.

Today, when the Chief Minister went out of his way to see each individual firefighter protesting outside Parliament some even turned their back on him and refused to shake his hand.  The Chief Minister walked round to each of them to nonetheless shake their hands, which they, eventually, all did.  This was quite remarkable and unfortunate behaviour on the part of some of the firefighters.

The Government remains supportive of the excellent work done by the GFRS and respectful of the professionalism at work that they deliver.  The Government also respects the right to protest but will nonetheless also restate that it does not agree the claim or the nature of it and it is rejected.  

The Government reminds the community of the figures for firefighter pay it has published and how well these compare to the pay of UK based equivalents.  

The Government looks forward to meeting, should Unite and the GFRS wish to do so, but take this opportunity to reconfirm in writing and publicly that it will not agree the current claim or any part thereof and will not entertain it. 

The Government has no doubt there will be many other issues we can, however, productively discuss.