This Wednesday, Bizkaia firefighters demonstrated in front of the Bizkaia Provincial Council Palace in Bilbao, protesting the worsening of their working conditions. This marks their fourth protest in recent months, as negotiations with the Council have stalled. They criticize the provincial department's "lack of commitment and complacency," stating they feel "forgotten."

For an hour, they concentrated on Bilbao's Gran Vía to highlight the "deficiencies" they believe exist in the service, which impact citizens. They point out that since 2001, there has been no new job evaluation, leading to a "lack of professional recognition" and no "internal promotion for command positions." They advocate for the elimination of "open recruitment" for these roles, arguing it allows individuals "without experience and knowledge" of street operations and needs to access leadership positions.

Lower-ranking personnel, including firefighters and corporals, believe there is "no salary balance" between those exposed to interventions and risks, and other command positions. Javi Salazar, delegate for the Urioste park, stated that "there are pay differences that should not exist, and salaries need to be balanced with the reality of the work. It is an economic grievance, but also an ethical and moral one. That is why we will continue to fight."

Furthermore, the workforce of over 400 employees criticizes the Council for its "lack of investment in health and safety." They recall that since 2023, the WHO has recognized the firefighting profession as "carcinogenic," prompting their demand for a "serious decontamination plan, and above all, with investment." They accuse institutions of "not taking this profession seriously," claiming it is "just a piece of paper to which no economic or material resources are allocated." In this regard, they specify that individual protective equipment (PPE) and structural fire suits should be decontaminated after each operation.

Finally, they call for more investment in the vehicle fleet, as "many are obsolete and not in proper working condition." The firefighters emphasize that negotiations are at "zero" level, and the Council "has no interest in negotiating." They conclude, "There is a collective agreement that affects the entire Provincial Council, but we have our peculiarities, and we are here to demand improvements for the Fire Prevention and Extinction Service."