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Firefighters stage strike in pensions dispute | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Members of the Fire Brigades Union in England and Wales have held a further strike on Christmas Eve in a dispute over pensions. | |
The strike lasting for five hours ended at midnight and further action is scheduled for the New Year. | |
But members of the FBU in Surrey and Kent were recalled after flooding was declared a "major incident". | |
Scottish firefighters voted against a strike but have joined an overtime ban. | |
Severe floods hit Surrey and Kent on Tuesday, with Dorking, Leatherhead and Tonbridge among areas 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. | 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 | Kitchen fires warning |
Ahead of the strike fire chiefs had urged the public to take extra care with Christmas celebrations. | 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." |
It was the FBU's 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 it had received five times the normal number of emergency 999 calls on Monday due to high winds and heavy rain hitting the capital. |