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Firefighters announce strike dates Firefighters to stage two more strikes in pensions row
(35 minutes later)
Firefighters in England and Wales are to strike on 1 and 4 November in a row over pensions, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) says. Firefighters in England and Wales are to strike on 1 and 4 November in a row with the government over pensions, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) says.
The government plans to make firefighters work up to 60 and argues that the pension on offer is generous. The government wants firefighters to work up to 60 but the union says this is too old to be fighting fires.
But FBU general secretary Matt Wrack says the late 50s are too old to be fighting fires and rescuing families. FBU members are due to walk out on 1 November from 18:30 to 23:00 GMT and on 4 November from 06:00 to 08:00 GMT.
In the first round of action last month, 32,000 union members in England and Wales walked out, the FBU said.
A second strike was called off earlier this month after progress was made during talks.
However, the FBU now say the government and fire employers have failed to offer any firm guarantees on jobs or pensions as a result of changes to the pension age from 55 to 60.
Fitness tests
FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: "The Westminster government has created this mess, but it is refusing to clear it up.
"It now recognises the problem but it won't provide the legal and financial guarantees firefighters need to ensure they have a job and an unreduced pension in the future.
"Firefighters face the sack towards the end of their career and the loss of their pension. That can't be right.
"The employers promised to tackle the issue of firefighters facing the sack for failing fitness tests last week, only to say they can't offer any guarantees this week.
"That is simply not the way to run a public service."
During the first strike on 25 September, contingency plans at the 46 fire services in England and three in Wales included using part-time and volunteer firefighters, calling in non-union fire crews and bringing in private contractors.
The armed forces had a back-up role and in the event of a major incident, union members could have returned to work.
No major incidents were reported during the four-hour strike which was the first national walkout for a decade.