Peter Lazenby
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THIRTY-THOUSAND firefighters and control room staff are to join the rising rebellion against government attacks on workers’ pay and conditions after an “overwhelming” vote for strike action.
Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) voted by 88 per cent to strike on a 73 per cent turnout.
The union has given the government 10 days to make a “decent” proposal on pay before announcing a programme of strikes.
Firefighters rejected a 5 per cent increase in November.
The strike — the first national action over pay by the FBU since 2003 — will put firefighters alongside NHS staff including nurses, teachers, Civil Service workers, train drivers and other rail workers taking national strike action.
FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: “Firefighters across the UK have spoken. The FBU has a decisive mandate for strike action.
“This is an overwhelming vote for strike action against an offer which would mean further significant cuts to real terms wages for firefighters and control room staff.
“They have already lost at least 12 per cent of the value of their pay since 2010.
“This is an absolute last resort for our members. The responsibility for any disruption to services lies squarely with fire service employers and government ministers.”
A national poll has shown that 58 per cent of the public support strike action by firefighters for better pay, while only 33 per cent oppose it.
Mr Wrack said: “Firefighters were among Britain’s Covid heroes who kept front-line services going during the pandemic.
“The Prime Minister has badly misjudged the public mood by imposing pay cuts on key workers.
“Our members risk their health and safety, and sometimes their lives, round the clock to keep people safe and serve their communities.
“However, with inflation and energy bills rocketing, they are now increasingly struggling to pay the bills or to afford the basics.”
“The government and the employers have the power to stop strikes from happening by making a credible offer that can resolve this dispute. The ball is in their court.”
The FBU said firefighters’ average annual salary is £32,244, while chief fire officers’ average salary is £148,000, with the highest on £206,000 — over six times more than an ordinary firefighter.
