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Third consecutive day of fire strikes on Sunday | Third consecutive day of fire strikes on Sunday |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Firefighters across Wales have staged a third consecutive day of strike action in a row over pensions. | |
Crews held a five-hour walkout on Sunday, which followed a 12-hour strike on Saturday and industrial action on Friday. | |
Sunday's strike ran from 10:00 to 15:00 BST. | |
The UK government said firefighters had one of the most generous pension schemes in the public sector. | The UK government said firefighters had one of the most generous pension schemes in the public sector. |
Firefighters have taken action after UK government plans to raise their retirement age from 55 to 60 and increase pension contributions. | Firefighters have taken action after UK government plans to raise their retirement age from 55 to 60 and increase pension contributions. |
Senior fire officers criticised those who started deliberate fires during Saturday's walkout and urged the public to take care over the bank holiday weekend. | Senior fire officers criticised those who started deliberate fires during Saturday's walkout and urged the public to take care over the bank holiday weekend. |
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue had to tackle two deliberate fires, at Pembroke Dock and on the car park of the Liberty Stadium, Swansea. | Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue had to tackle two deliberate fires, at Pembroke Dock and on the car park of the Liberty Stadium, Swansea. |
'Negotiations' | 'Negotiations' |
Firefighters were also called to a report of an elderly female stuck in mud in Johnstown, Carmarthen. | Firefighters were also called to a report of an elderly female stuck in mud in Johnstown, Carmarthen. |
In north Wales, chief fire officer Simon Smith said "resources were stretched unnecessarily" with crews having to attend one suspected deliberate fire, although no further details were given. | In north Wales, chief fire officer Simon Smith said "resources were stretched unnecessarily" with crews having to attend one suspected deliberate fire, although no further details were given. |
"Again we managed the reduction in the resources that we had at our disposal well," he said. | "Again we managed the reduction in the resources that we had at our disposal well," he said. |
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has held a series of short strikes across Wales and England since September, claiming firefighters should be allowed to retire earlier than other workers from such a physically demanding job. | The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has held a series of short strikes across Wales and England since September, claiming firefighters should be allowed to retire earlier than other workers from such a physically demanding job. |
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: "After three years of negotiations and an intense four months presenting an indisputable, evidence-based case for the need to ensure a pension scheme that takes into account the unique occupation of firefighting, the government is still burying its head in the sand." | Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: "After three years of negotiations and an intense four months presenting an indisputable, evidence-based case for the need to ensure a pension scheme that takes into account the unique occupation of firefighting, the government is still burying its head in the sand." |
A spokesman for the Department of Communities and Local Government said: "The deal on the table gives firefighters one of the most generous pension schemes in all the public sector, and the proposals protect the earned rights of a higher proportion of members than any other public sector scheme. | A spokesman for the Department of Communities and Local Government said: "The deal on the table gives firefighters one of the most generous pension schemes in all the public sector, and the proposals protect the earned rights of a higher proportion of members than any other public sector scheme. |
"Nearly three-quarters will see no change in their pension age in 2015." | "Nearly three-quarters will see no change in their pension age in 2015." |