Emergency fire call operators launched eight days of strike action yesterday in protest over shift changes that would make raising a family all but impossible.

Essex fire chiefs have pushed through changes that would see many of the 999 operators — who are almost all women — having to leave their jobs or drastically reduce their hours and pay.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has put forward alternative plans which it says are cost-neutral, but managers have maintained a stony silence.

Workers say the new plans, which include much earlier start times, would result in “astronomical” childcare costs.

FBU executive councillor for control operators Jo Byrne said managers had “just forged ahead and imposed the shift changes anyway” in spite of willingness for compromise.

“We celebrated International Women’s Day this past Sunday,” she said.

“These shifts disproportionately affect women with young families and a number of our members have been forced to leave the service, while others have had no choice other than to reduce their hours and pay to fit in with available childcare.

“It’s not lost on anyone that the decision to impose the unworkable shift system in the Essex control room was taken by a senior management team consisting predominantly of middle-aged men who have no intention of working the shift system themselves.”

The union has also raised serious concerns over a spate of computer failures forcing control staff to note emergencies down on paper before dispatching fire engines.