Cost of London 'means firefighters need second jobs’

Firefighters today defended their right to have second jobs amid concerns that their ability to earn two salaries is at the heart of the dispute.

A third of London firefighters are able to hold down two jobs because they work only four days in every eight.

Brigade managers want to re-employ all frontline staff on new contracts that will mean longer day shifts — up from nine to 12 hours — and shorter night shifts, down from 15 hours to 12, to boost daytime fire prevention work. The days off would be unaffected.

But firefighters today defended their second jobs — saying they earned too little to cope with the cost of London. Trainees earn £27,059, while qualified crew are paid £33,220, and watch managers receive £39,982. All salaries include £5,021 London weighting.

Two thousand London crew members have second jobs. Lucas Gypsiotis, based at Leyton, is on the books of a top casting agency. The 29-year-old has appeared in TV advertisements for Walkers Crisps and Tesco.

Watch manager Richard Golds, 46, who also runs a driving school in St Albans, said: "Most of the firefighters live outside London because they can't afford to live there any more."