THE Fire Brigades Union has said people in Essex will see a worse service and be less safe if officials get their way.

FBU officials have said industrial action short of a strike will continue after continuing failures with its negotiations with Essex Fire and Rescue Service.

But the Fire Service has hit back saying FBU claims of job losses are “complete and utter rubbish.”

FBU brigade chair Keith Flynn said: “They told us yesterday they are still determined to cut at least 44 firefighters’ jobs by 2010 – down from 954 to 905- which will mean fewer firefighters spread more thinly across Essex, leaving too few firefighters on duty to crew all the fire engines when they are needed in a 999 emergency.

“They also insisted they will be introducing smaller fire vehicles to fire stations in the county. These hold fewer firefighters to deal with emergencies.”

Essex Chief Fire Officer David Johnson said: “Not one individual is losing their job. We are safeguarding the firefighters' shift system, investing in new equipment and appliances and giving staff the opportunity to earn extra money – in the current climate there are few employers who can do that and I think the FBU needs to think hard about what it is doing.

“The figures the FBU put out about one in 10 fire fighters losing their jobs are complete and utter rubbish.”