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Firefighters strike over pensions in England and Wales Firefighters strike over pensions in England and Wales
(about 5 hours later)
Firefighters in England and Wales have staged a fresh strike in a row with the government over pension ages.Firefighters in England and Wales have staged a fresh strike in a row with the government over pension ages.
The walkout between 18:30 and 23:00 GMT by Fire Brigades Union members will be repeated on Monday for two hours. Ministers described the action by Fire Brigades Union members as completely unnecessary and damaging to the reputation of firefighters.
Ministers have described the strike as completely unnecessary and damaging to the reputation of firefighters. The strike began at 18:30 as a large scrapyard fire broke out in east London but contingency crews attended and the fire was later brought under control.
The strike began as a large scrapyard fire was tackled in Dagenham, east London, but the fire brigade said "contingency" crews were at the scene. A further two-hour strike is planned to take place from 06:00 GMT on Monday.
The cause of the blaze in Dagenham is not yet known. Twenty fire engines were sent to the scene and it led to a voluntary recall of striking FBU staff in the capital. 'Breached' agreement
The cause of the blaze in Dagenham is not yet known.
Twenty fire engines and 120 firefighters and officers were sent to the scene and it led to a voluntary recall of striking FBU staff in the capital.
"The strike started at 6.30pm, and when the fire crews left we called in four contingency crews," a London Fire Brigade spokeswoman said.
"The strike ended at 11pm, and we have had six crews brought back to the scene. The fire is under control."
An agreement was in place for all striking staff who would normally be on duty to be recalled in the event of a major incident, but the FBU said the way the London Fire Brigade had enacted it had "breached" the agreement.An agreement was in place for all striking staff who would normally be on duty to be recalled in the event of a major incident, but the FBU said the way the London Fire Brigade had enacted it had "breached" the agreement.
London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson maintained the recall was valid and had been issued because of the size of the fire and the resources needed to deal with it.London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson maintained the recall was valid and had been issued because of the size of the fire and the resources needed to deal with it.
"The FBU have told firefighters not to follow the recall notice. They claim the recall is not valid because there is no risk to life. There is no reference to risk of life in the agreed protocols to implement a major incident," he said."The FBU have told firefighters not to follow the recall notice. They claim the recall is not valid because there is no risk to life. There is no reference to risk of life in the agreed protocols to implement a major incident," he said.
'Way forward''Way forward'
The latest action comes after a four-hour stoppage last month, followed by an abandoned strike when an agreement to the two-year dispute was anticipated.The latest action comes after a four-hour stoppage last month, followed by an abandoned strike when an agreement to the two-year dispute was anticipated.
The union wants assurances about terms of employment in view of government plans to raise the retirement age for firefighters from 55 to 60.The union wants assurances about terms of employment in view of government plans to raise the retirement age for firefighters from 55 to 60.
The FBU says it fears firefighters will be made redundant if they fail fitness tests and are unable to find other work in the fire service.The FBU says it fears firefighters will be made redundant if they fail fitness tests and are unable to find other work in the fire service.
But the government says firefighters have been offered similar fitness principles to those the FBU accepted in Scotland and its proposals offer them one of the most generous pension schemes in the public sector.But the government says firefighters have been offered similar fitness principles to those the FBU accepted in Scotland and its proposals offer them one of the most generous pension schemes in the public sector.
FBU general secretary Matt Wrack told BBC Radio 5 Live's Stephan Nolan show: "[Going on strike] is not something any of us want to do.FBU general secretary Matt Wrack told BBC Radio 5 Live's Stephan Nolan show: "[Going on strike] is not something any of us want to do.
"We have tried to avoid this dispute. We have tried to avoid strike action for three years. But what is the alternative if you have a government who won't listen or won't negotiate?""We have tried to avoid this dispute. We have tried to avoid strike action for three years. But what is the alternative if you have a government who won't listen or won't negotiate?"
He said plans to make firefighters work until the age of 60 were "unworkable" and any pension scheme should take that into account.He said plans to make firefighters work until the age of 60 were "unworkable" and any pension scheme should take that into account.
'Be sensible''Be sensible'
The FBU said it had timed the strike to avoid Bonfire Night and the Saturdays on either side.The FBU said it had timed the strike to avoid Bonfire Night and the Saturdays on either side.
Fire Minister Brandon Lewis said: "[Firefighters] are courageous people, they deserve a good pension scheme. We believe we've put that in place. We think it is completely unnecessary for them to call a strike at this time.Fire Minister Brandon Lewis said: "[Firefighters] are courageous people, they deserve a good pension scheme. We believe we've put that in place. We think it is completely unnecessary for them to call a strike at this time.
"To the general public I would say there are good contingency plans in place right across the country and if they have an emergency call - a 999 call - they will get an emergency response.""To the general public I would say there are good contingency plans in place right across the country and if they have an emergency call - a 999 call - they will get an emergency response."
Peter Dartford, the vice-president of the Chief Fire Officers Association, said individual authorities and fire and rescue authorities would have business continuity plans in place but services "will have to prioritise calls, and obviously those that involve a threat to life will be given the highest priority".Peter Dartford, the vice-president of the Chief Fire Officers Association, said individual authorities and fire and rescue authorities would have business continuity plans in place but services "will have to prioritise calls, and obviously those that involve a threat to life will be given the highest priority".
The government's chief fire and rescue adviser, Peter Holland, said "people shouldn't be alarmed" by the strike but urged them to "be sensible".The government's chief fire and rescue adviser, Peter Holland, said "people shouldn't be alarmed" by the strike but urged them to "be sensible".
Industrial action has been avoided in Scotland through talks with the Scottish government, although there is no final agreement in place as yet.Industrial action has been avoided in Scotland through talks with the Scottish government, although there is no final agreement in place as yet.