Fourth firefighters strike next week

Firefighters across England and Wales have set a date for a fourth strike action on the 13 November.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) will also hold a new ballot to decide if to take further industrial action and what forms they should take.

As in previous actions FBU members will strike for a set hour time period before returning to work.

This strike will take place for four hours between 10am and 2pm on Wednesday 13 November.

Fire minister, Brandon Lewis criticised th move towards further industrial action.

He said: “It is disappointing that the FBU are once again choosing to strike when the government has offered a generous pension and developed a package on firefighter fitness that addresses the majority of their concerns.

“The FBU claim not to be able to agree to these proposals in England, yet similar proposals in Scotland were satisfactory enough to let the strike mandate there fall.”

The dispute between the FBU and the government stems from changes made to firefighters pensions.

The FBU has argued repeatedly that as firefighters are likely to see a decline in fitness around their 50s which could force them to either take a reduced pension or outright dismissal for failing to meet the fitness standard.

FBU General Secretary, Matt Wrack said: “Our members enter burning buildings for a living, and will not be intimidated by the government’s decision to worsen their proposals. This latest attack will simply harden the resolve of firefighters.

“Ministers continue to ignore the professional, evidence-based case firefighters have presented over the past three years and refuse to establish an affordable occupational pension scheme which reflects the occupation of firefighting.

“There seems to be little or no understanding of what our members actually do or the standards they are required to meet.”

It looked like there was going to be some movement towards a resolution after a strike was cancelled in October to make way for talks to begin.

A the talks between the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), national fire employers and the FBU, the government acknowledged that there was a threat of job losses in the pension scheme.

However, further talks were curtailed after the announcement of the second and third strikes in the run up to Bonfire night, on the 1 and 4 November.

The government has claimed that this move was the FBU walking away from talks but has so far not answered any of the FBU requests for further discussions.

There will be a ballot at some point after next week’s strike to make plans for further industrial action and what form that should take on the ballot Mr Wrack said: ““Although we still hope the government returns to negotiations, our members have told us that they are prepared for a long, hard campaign if necessary.

“As a result we are now balloting for further forms of industrial action.

“The fire and rescue service is totally reliant on the goodwill of firefighters on the front line. Many are now performing additional duties and additional hours as a result of central government funding cuts.

“There is precious little goodwill left in view of these attacks and that I am confident that will be reflected in this further vote.

“I urge the government to come back and talk about all the issues in dispute.”