Unions describe the facilities in Getafe as the worst in the region. The new station has been delayed by 18 years and the fire rate will increase by 70%.
Unions have once again denounced the state of the Getafe Fire Station following a new visit to the facilities, labelling it as “the worst in the Community of Madrid.” The new station has already accumulated 18 years of delays and, according to the municipal government, there are still pending procedures such as the archaeological study, which would hinder the start of construction in the last quarter of this year, as announced by the Community of Madrid. This is reported by Getafe Capital.
The mayor of Getafe, Sara Hernández, has criticized the lack of investment in the facilities and has demanded that the increase in the fire extinguishing rate, which will mean a 70% rise for the municipality, be allocated to improving the conditions for firefighters.
The representative of the Firefighters' Union, Israel Naveso, has stated that they are “tired of being promised that the new station will be built and we still know nothing.” He explained that there is still missing administrative documentation and anticipates that the construction could be delayed “likely until the middle of next year.”
During the visit, various deficiencies in the facilities were noted, including broken doors, small changing rooms, lack of space for storing equipment, an insufficient gym, problems with the storage of jackets, and the sinking of the outdoor area. It was also noted that the helipad remains closed for failing to meet regulations and that one of the fire trucks is missing one of its doors.
Naveso has indicated that firefighters will consider new protest measures in light of the situation. “We do not deserve to be lied to, to be deceived, and above all, to not be provided with minimum and dignified conditions to work,” he stated.
The municipal government will present the fire extinguishing rate to the September Plenary, following the increase announced by the Community of Madrid. With the rise, Getafe would go from paying about 3 million euros annually to over 5.2 million, a 70% increase.
The City Council questions whether this increase will be accompanied by investments in the station and firefighters' equipment. Hernández has pointed out that “while the Community of Madrid is going to increase the fire extinguishing rate charged to all residents of Getafe by 70%, that money is not being invested in the needs reported by the firefighters.”
The City Council also recalls that last January, the High Court of Justice of Madrid ruled in favour of the Firefighters' Union in its complaint against the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Employment regarding the allocation of around 40 million euros from premiums paid by insurers between 2019 and 2023.
According to the City Council, the ruling establishes that the income from the rate must be allocated to investments. The local government demands to know if the new increase will translate into improvements for the firefighters of Getafe while the new station remains pending.
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