INDUSTRIAL action by the Fire Brigades Union has saved the Essex service about £330,000, a fire chief has said.

Members of the union began the dispute, stopping short of a strike, six months ago.

The action, which included an overtime ban and firefighters not acting up to more senior roles, could now lead to a permanent decision on banning overtime.

The dispute began after the union claimed Essex County Fire and Rescue Service was cutting jobs and risking the lives of firefighters and the public.

David Johnson, Chief Fire Officer, said, in effect, the action had worked as a six-month trial to save money.

The findings will be discussed by members of the Essex Fire Authority on February 10.

Chairman of the authority, Tony Hedley, said: “The question that bugged us was, why were we paying all this overtime anyway?

“I am probably going to take the report for information and the likely outcome would be a task group would be set up to ask for an investigation and a full report on the impact the industrial action has had.”

Union spokesman Mick Rogers said: “If they said they are going to impose an overtime ban, and you can only work the hours you’re contracted to work, that wouldn’t cause us problems. This way they will have to employ more staff, despite imposing a recruitment freeze last year.”