A NEW duty system for firefighters is set to save West Yorkshire Fire Authority around £400,000 a year.
The new system involves specialist staff - such as fire safety officers or training workers - switching from working 31.5 hours a week to 42 hours a week.
The new system was part of the national pay agreement which followed a series of strikes by firefighters last year.
The change will affect around 150 fire officers in West Yorkshire.
The fire authority says the productivity boost will be equal to employing 16 extra staff.
Clr Robert Light, fire authority chairman, said: "Greater flexibility would represent a huge increase in productivity.
"This is the kind of efficiency we can generate within the fire service by sensible modernisation of working practices."
The new system will be reviewed after six months and then 12 months so the Fire Brigade Union can ensure it is operating fairly.
