Firefighters to hold four day strike

LINCOLNSHIRE firefighters are to stage a four day strike as part of a long-running dispute over pensions.

The action begins at 6pm on Friday October 31 and runs until 6pm on November 4.

It follows what the Fire Brigades Union says is a refusal from the Department for Communities and Local Government to bring any new offer to the table over pensions, despite two months of talks.

The union says it has negotiated in good faith and has taken up every opportunity to make its case and seek changes to the government’s pension plans, which the union says are expensive and unworkable.

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “Firefighters will not stand by and see our members’ pension rights destroyed by a government which does not give a damn about the safety or wellbeing of firefighters in the long term.

“The public do not want 60 year olds tackling fires. Everyone understand the stupidity of these plans – except government Ministers.

“We remain committed to resolving this dispute in the interests of our members and the public at large.”

The FBU says that under Government proposals, firefighters will have to work until they are 60 instead of 55, pay more into their pensions and ultimately get less in retirement.

The union fears that due to the rigorous fitness requirements of the fire service, many firefighters are expected to be unable to work to 60 and therefore risk losing half of their pension.

Members say the public will also be put at risk with every likelihood that increasing numbers of 60 year old firefighters will be attending the most serious of incidents.