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| Firefighters strike in pensions dispute | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Christmas Eve strike by members of the Fire Brigades Union in England and Wales has begun in a dispute over pensions. | |
| Scottish firefighters voted against a strike but were due to operate an overtime ban in support. | |
| The strike is planned to last until midnight with further action scheduled for the New Year. | |
| The FBU in Surrey and Kent said its members had been recalled following the declaration of a "major incident". | |
| Severe floods hit the area on Tuesday, with Dorking, Leatherhead and Guildford affected. | |
| There is an agreement between the union, the government and the fire services that if there are major incidents, union members could be recalled, the FBU said. | There is an agreement between the union, the government and the fire services that if there are major incidents, union members could be recalled, the FBU said. |
| So if there are problems resulting from the storm that has hit the country, firefighters can be asked to go back and work - albeit voluntarily. | |
| Kitchen fires warning | |
| Ahead of the strike fire chiefs had urged the public to take extra care with Christmas celebrations. | |
| "Millions of people will be at home celebrating Christmas and New Year when the Fire Brigades Union goes on strike," said the London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson. | "Millions of people will be at home celebrating Christmas and New Year when the Fire Brigades Union goes on strike," said the London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson. |
| "Contingency plans are in place but we're urging people to take care, to be sensible, and to remember that fire brigades could be very busy during the strikes," he added. | "Contingency plans are in place but we're urging people to take care, to be sensible, and to remember that fire brigades could be very busy during the strikes," he added. |
| "Make sure you keep candles well away from anything that could catch fire and switch off fairy lights when you go out or to bed. | "Make sure you keep candles well away from anything that could catch fire and switch off fairy lights when you go out or to bed. |
| "If you're preparing a festive feast, it's a good idea to keep an eye on cooking to prevent kitchen fires." | "If you're preparing a festive feast, it's a good idea to keep an eye on cooking to prevent kitchen fires." |
| This will be the seventh strike since September. | This will be the seventh strike since September. |
| The union says the government is "refusing to honour long-standing agreements" over pension arrangements. | The union says the government is "refusing to honour long-standing agreements" over pension arrangements. |
| Changes to the pension scheme could also result in many firefighters in their late 50s being sacked, the union claims. | Changes to the pension scheme could also result in many firefighters in their late 50s being sacked, the union claims. |
| Union officials met with fire minister Brandon Lewis earlier on Tuesday, but it is not yet clear if there was any agreement. | Union officials met with fire minister Brandon Lewis earlier on Tuesday, but it is not yet clear if there was any agreement. |
| Mr Lewis has described the action as "completely cynical" and added that there were "robust contingency arrangements in place". | Mr Lewis has described the action as "completely cynical" and added that there were "robust contingency arrangements in place". |
| Meanwhile the London Fire Brigade said on Monday that it had received five times the normal number of emergency 999 calls last night due to the high winds and heavy rain hitting the capital. | Meanwhile the London Fire Brigade said on Monday that it had received five times the normal number of emergency 999 calls last night due to the high winds and heavy rain hitting the capital. |