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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Firefighters confirm four-hour strike in England and Wales | Firefighters confirm four-hour strike in England and Wales |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Firefighters in England and Wales will go on strike on 25 September in a row over pensions, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has confirmed. | Firefighters in England and Wales will go on strike on 25 September in a row over pensions, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has confirmed. |
| FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said the four-hour strike is "a warning shot to government". | FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said the four-hour strike is "a warning shot to government". |
| Firefighters in Scotland will not strike on Wednesday, but could still take industrial action later, the union said. | Firefighters in Scotland will not strike on Wednesday, but could still take industrial action later, the union said. |
| The government had previously called its pensions offer "generous". | The government had previously called its pensions offer "generous". |
| It had offered to release full pensions to firefighters when they reach the age of 60. | It had offered to release full pensions to firefighters when they reach the age of 60. |
| Mr Wrack said: "This initial strike is a warning shot to government. Firefighters could not be more serious about protecting public safety and ensuring fair pensions. | Mr Wrack said: "This initial strike is a warning shot to government. Firefighters could not be more serious about protecting public safety and ensuring fair pensions. |
| 'Lives endangered' claim | 'Lives endangered' claim |
| "Governments in Westminster and Cardiff have simply refused to see sense on these issues. | "Governments in Westminster and Cardiff have simply refused to see sense on these issues. |
| "It is ludicrous to expect firefighters to fight fires and rescue families in their late 50s - the lives of the general public and firefighters themselves will be endangered." | "It is ludicrous to expect firefighters to fight fires and rescue families in their late 50s - the lives of the general public and firefighters themselves will be endangered." |
| The FBU had previously said the current proposals would see firefighters who retire or are forced out of work at 55 losing about 50% of their pensions. | The FBU had previously said the current proposals would see firefighters who retire or are forced out of work at 55 losing about 50% of their pensions. |
| Around 85% of firefighters in England and Wales are union members, and 78% of members balloted in England, Scotland and Wales voted in favour of strike action. | Around 85% of firefighters in England and Wales are union members, and 78% of members balloted in England, Scotland and Wales voted in favour of strike action. |
| The walkout will take place for four hours, between noon and 16:00BST. | The walkout will take place for four hours, between noon and 16:00BST. |
| During the action, each of the 46 fire and rescue authorities in England have a legal duty to put contingency plans in place. | During the action, each of the 46 fire and rescue authorities in England have a legal duty to put contingency plans in place. |
| No army intervention | No army intervention |
| Unlike the strikes of 2002 and 2003, Army personnel will not be brought in. | |
| The ageing Green Goddess fire engines used then were sold off in 2005-06 (800 of them) to different organisations and individuals by the Disposal Services Authority, the Ministry of Defence said. | The ageing Green Goddess fire engines used then were sold off in 2005-06 (800 of them) to different organisations and individuals by the Disposal Services Authority, the Ministry of Defence said. |
| Should a "major incident" occur, the FBU has agreed it will exempt firefighters and operation managers from strike action if they volunteer to help. | Should a "major incident" occur, the FBU has agreed it will exempt firefighters and operation managers from strike action if they volunteer to help. |
| The FBU said that firefighters in Scotland will not strike next week while union officials are discussing the Scottish Government's most recent proposals. | The FBU said that firefighters in Scotland will not strike next week while union officials are discussing the Scottish Government's most recent proposals. |
| The union said government figures showed that thousands of firefighters could face the sack without access to a proper pension because they are getting older. | |
| It said a recent government review found that more than half of current firefighters between the ages of 50 and 54 are no longer able to meet fire and rescue service fitness standards for fighting fires, while two thirds of those beyond the age of 55 fail to meet the standards. | |
| The union said the majority of firefighters pay 13% of their salary to pension contributions, and there are further increases set for next year. | |
| London contingency plans | |
| Prior to Tuesday's announcement, London Fire Brigade told the BBC its contingency plans for strike action were the same as when there was a strike in the capital in 2010. | |
| They were not intended to "replace or replicate" what the brigade typically does on a normal day, a spokesman said. | |
| Instead of the 169 fire engines used on a typical day, 27 will be used. | |
| And while fire fighters will attend confirmed fires, they will not be going to animal rescues, people trapped in lifts or automatic fire alarms. | |
| The people used during strike action have been trained by the London Fire Brigade, but they are not normally fire fighters. |