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| Firefighters to stage two more strikes in pensions row | Firefighters to stage two more strikes in pensions row |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Firefighters in England and Wales are to stage two more strikes in the run-up to bonfire night in a row over pensions, the Fire Brigades Union says. | Firefighters in England and Wales are to stage two more strikes in the run-up to bonfire night in a row over pensions, the Fire Brigades Union says. |
| The government wants firefighters to work up to 60 but the union says this is too old to be fighting fires. | The government wants firefighters to work up to 60 but the union says this is too old to be fighting fires. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | A second strike was called off earlier this month after progress was made during talks. |
| The FBU postponed the five-hour strike saying that the government and fire employers had shifted their position and recognised that firefighters faced losing their jobs and a "large chunk" of their pensions under new changes imposed in April. | The FBU postponed the five-hour strike saying that the government and fire employers had shifted their position and recognised that firefighters faced losing their jobs and a "large chunk" of their pensions under new changes imposed in April. |
| However, the FBU now says the government and fire employers have failed to offer any firm guarantees on jobs or pensions. | However, the FBU now says the government and fire employers have failed to offer any firm guarantees on jobs or pensions. |
| Fitness tests | Fitness tests |
| FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: "The Westminster government has created this mess, but it is refusing to clear it up. | 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. | "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. | "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. | "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. | "That is simply not the way to run a public service. |
| "The government is now making threats to withdraw some of the other concessions they have made this year." | "The government is now making threats to withdraw some of the other concessions they have made this year." |
| The government has called the fresh action "completely unnecessary" and damaging to the fire service's reputation. | The government has called the fresh action "completely unnecessary" and damaging to the fire service's reputation. |
| Fire minister Brandon Lewis said: "Talks were progressing encouragingly and in good faith so for the FBU to walk away after only four days of negotiation is completely baffling." | Fire minister Brandon Lewis said: "Talks were progressing encouragingly and in good faith so for the FBU to walk away after only four days of negotiation is completely baffling." |
| He said the government had matched the fitness terms accepted in Scotland and the government had facilitated talks between the FBU and their employers over the issue of firefighter fitness. | |
| Fireworks and bonfires | Fireworks and bonfires |
| London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said it was prepared to deal with further strikes and would have 27 fire engines based at strategic points across the capital. | London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said it was prepared to deal with further strikes and would have 27 fire engines based at strategic points across the capital. |
| "The evening strike date falls on the Friday before bonfire night. It is just before Diwali and coincides with half-term, so people need to be really careful with fireworks and bonfires," he said. | "The evening strike date falls on the Friday before bonfire night. It is just before Diwali and coincides with half-term, so people need to be really careful with fireworks and bonfires," he said. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | No major incidents were reported during the four-hour strike which was the first national walkout for a decade. |