Firefighters Issue Further Eight Days Of Strike Action

Firefighters have today announced a further eight day period of strike action as part of the ongoing dispute over pensions.

The strikes will take place for eight days from Saturday 9 August – until Saturday 16 August between 12pm – 2pm and 22:59 – 23:59.

Today’s announcement follows on from a week of strikes earlier this month.

The strikes come as a result of the ongoing row with the Government over retirement ages and pensions

Currently members are allowed to retire at the age of 55 and pay 11% of their wages into a pension scheme. Changes to the scheme already mean that many firefighters now pay 13%, and proposals could see the retirement raised to the age of 60. However recent proposals could see firefighters being sacked if they are not deemed fit enough for work in their late 50s.

The current proposals in England and Wales are still unworkable and mean that firefighters will still face dismissal simply because they cannot maintain the high physical fitness requirements necessary for their role until they are age 60.

The proposals would also mean that if firefighters opt for early retirement, there would be a reduction in their pension.

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “It is absolutely ludicrous that a government can impose a scheme which means that firefighters will have to ride engines and rescue people from fires up to age 60.

“This is unsafe and unrealistic for both firefighters and the public. We know it, and the public know it, but the government will not listen to the evidence based case we have made to them.”