BACK in February 1988 we were reporting on firemen planning a mass demonstration against job cuts.

Here's the story from the Argus at the time:

A massive protest against job losses is planned by Welsh firemen outside Gwent County Hall on Thursday.

Brigades throughout the Principality are sending delegates to Gwent to help first proposals to axe 22 full-time and 60 part-time jobs.

Councillors attending the council's public protection committee meeting, where the cuts will be discussed, will walk through a "wall of protesters", a senior Fire Brigades' Union promised.

And on Saturday the main thrust of the Gwent protest came from the Malpas station who staged a demonstration in John Frost Square.

The demonstration came on the heels of a sudden announcement by FBU regional officer Mike Smith calling off the work to rule instructions given last week.

Apart from the job cuts, the firemen also claim cuts in the service will mean a twenty per cent reduction in the number of fire engines in the county.

"They say they are not going to put lives at risk, but any cut in the standard of fire cover will obviously produce risks to lives," said Steve Jenkins, the FBU chairman, who was present at the demonstration in his capacity as a Malpas fireman.

"We are not against Gwent county council but they are just doing Thatcher's job for her."

Newport West MP Paul Flynn also went along to lend his weight to the firemen's dispute.

"There is widespread public concern about what people see as a cut in the fire service, especially in Newport, and I have had many letters about it.

"They have run into a hell of a problem. For a number of years they have been under pressure to carry out the cuts in the service. I will be taking this up with Gwent county council," he said.

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