Following a salary increase for firefighters, the Provincial Fire Consortium of Cádiz acknowledges a personnel shortage in its stations. The provincial entity states that steps agreed upon with unions are being followed to address these labor deficits, and a significant effort is being made to bolster this essential service.
Consortium sources highlight progress in their improvement strategy, with a 15.43% increase in financial contributions over the last two years and 22.38% over the last five, reaching historic figures. The roadmap, agreed with unions, includes structural measures being implemented progressively.
The Consortium's president, José Ortiz, supports union demands, clarifying that "not all advancements can be incorporated at once and require their process." These measures are materializing in improvements to the organization, staff, and operational capacity of the fire stations.
The Bomberos Unidos union recently warned of a deficit of around fifty unfilled vacancies, crucial for handling the summer demand.
The main objectives of the process initiated with worker representatives include the approval of the Job Position Schedule (RPT), which sets the required personnel at 676 for the 20 stations and two operational centers, and the Regulatory Agreement. Both documents aim to organize the professional structure, improve internal planning, and implement salary enhancements, with an average annual increase of approximately 7,900 euros gross per professional compared to 2024.
Staff expansion is the third line of work and currently concentrates efforts. Recruitment processes are underway for 41 firefighters, in their final stages; the coverage of 23 new chief positions, which have already undergone their first test; and calls for sub-inspectors and sergeants.
The process for the 41 firefighter positions will also create a pool of temporary staff. The Provincial Council of Cádiz will cover the cost of 15 new positions in 2027, and the Consortium is in talks with member municipalities to enable further sustainable staff increases.
Concurrently, overtime hours have been extended to historic levels to bolster staff availability while new personnel integration procedures are completed, although this places an additional workload on the current staff.
José Ortiz reiterates that "service improvement requires planning, investment, and institutional cooperation," and that a roadmap is being applied to expand staff and reinforce stations with sustainable measures, acknowledging the need to increase personnel and the commitment of all consortium entities.
