Norfolk female firefighters receive less maternity pay

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has used freedom of information laws to uncover the "postcode lottery" of payouts made to female staff who take time off after having children.

Norfolk is one of a number of brigades which pay the statutory minimum, meaning women lose 10pc of their pay when they start their maternity leave, losing a further 40pc and going onto half pay six weeks after that.

Women in those areas, which also include Suffolk and Essex, receive approximiately £11,817 against their salary of around £32,000.

But the FBU says female firefighters in Derbyshire and Staffordshire are paid a maternity package of £27,250, with Cheshire (£26,952), Avon (£23,358) and Durham (£20,245) also paying more.

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The union is calling for 12 months of maternity leave on full pay for all UK firefighters.

The union argues improving the provisions for maternity and caring responsibilities will also have a positive impact on the recruitment and retention of women in the fire and rescue service. At present, just one in 10 firefighters are women.  

Ben Selby, its assistant general secretary, said: "This system is unfair and systematically undervalues women firefighters. 

"The service cannot hope to recruit and retain women firefighters if it continues to have such poor and patchy maternity leave provision."  

Stefan Rider, head of people at Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service is committed to equality and diversity in our workforce and we recognise and welcome the fact that more women than ever before are now considering a career as a firefighter.

"I have recently been appointed as Head of People and as part of my role, will be working with HR professionals to review our maternity policies and make sure they are in line with our values."