By John Ferguson
The Daily Record & Sunday Mail
PERTH, Scotland — The first chief of Scotland’s new national fire service was yesterday backed by his staff.
Alasdair Hay, 50, will take charge of eight merged regional brigades next April on a salary of £165,000.
And union chiefs have welcomed his appointment.
Roddy Robertson, of the Scottish Fire Brigades Union, said: “Mr Hay is viewed as a firefighter’s firefighter who remembers what it is like to crawl down a smoke-filled corridor.
“He has done the job on the frontline and that means a lot.
“He is someone that we have worked with in the past and who we think we will be able to work constructively with in the future.”
A Fire Brigade insider said: “Alasdair Hay is definitely seen as the best possible choice by the rank and file.
“A few of the others would have been a disaster.”
Dad-of-three Hay, who lives in Dundee, is the acting chief officer at Tayside and will have 9000 staff in his new job.
He said: “I’ll continue to work closely with the workforce, unions, government, local authorities and other key partners to maintain the high standards of the Scottish fire and rescue services.
“Above all, the single Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will strengthen the connections with all communities.
“This new service will be efficient and effective and focused on the needs of the people who depend on the vital services our dedicated workforce delivers.”
Dave Watson, of union Unison — who represent non-uniformed brigade workers — said: “He will have a big task ahead. We are concerned savings he will be expected to make will lead to job losses.”
It’s claimed the merger will save £1.7billion over 15 years.
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