Peter Lazenby
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FIREFIGHTERS have joined more one million other public-sector workers in preparing to strike over pay.
Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) have “overwhelmingly” rejected a 5 per cent offer in a consultative ballot of the union’s 32,000 members.
Voting on whether to take strike action begins on December 5 and closes on January 23.
General secretary Matt Wrack said: “FBU members have spoken. This result of the consultative ballot, on a two-week turnaround, shows that there is remarkable strength of feeling amongst firefighters and control staff on this derisory pay offer.
“We have firefighters using foodbanks. Our members worked through the pandemic to help protect their communities, taking on extra duties to do so.
“A further real-terms pay cut is an absolutely disgusting way to thank them. Whilst strike action is always a last resort, our members simply can’t go on like this.
“The ball is in the employers’ and government’s court. There is still an opportunity to resolve this dispute and we will be writing to fire ministers and government departments across the UK requesting urgent meetings.”
The 5 per cent proposal was rejected by 79 per cent of FBU members on a turnout of 78 per cent, with the result coming on the day that inflation soared above 11 per cent.
If strike action does materialise, it will be the first national walkout by firefighters and control room staff since 2014 and the first over pay since 2003.
Firefighters would join nurses and other NHS staff, civil servants, teachers, rail workers, postal and communications staff, bus workers and other public-sector employees who are taking strike action, have voted for it or are balloting on proposed stoppages.
