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| Firefighters to strike for eight days over pensions | Firefighters to strike for eight days over pensions |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Firefighters across England and Wales will take strike action across eight consecutive days in an ongoing row over pensions and retirement benefits. | Firefighters across England and Wales will take strike action across eight consecutive days in an ongoing row over pensions and retirement benefits. |
| The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said the government's proposed changes to firefighters' retirement benefits posed a "vicious attack" on their pensions. | The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said the government's proposed changes to firefighters' retirement benefits posed a "vicious attack" on their pensions. |
| Firefighters have been contesting the changes for three years. | Firefighters have been contesting the changes for three years. |
| The strikes will take place from Monday, 14 July at various intervals throughout the day. | The strikes will take place from Monday, 14 July at various intervals throughout the day. |
| There will generally be two hours of strike action between 6am and 8am, and then again between 5pm and 7pm, apart from Friday 18 July when the later strike will be between 11pm and 1am and on Saturday 19 July when the action will be between 11am and 1pm and 11pm and 1am. | There will generally be two hours of strike action between 6am and 8am, and then again between 5pm and 7pm, apart from Friday 18 July when the later strike will be between 11pm and 1am and on Saturday 19 July when the action will be between 11am and 1pm and 11pm and 1am. |
| On Sunday, 20 July there will be just one strike between 5pm and 7pm. | On Sunday, 20 July there will be just one strike between 5pm and 7pm. |
| Matt Wrack at the FBU said the government "must realise firefighters cannot accept proposals that would have such devastating consequences" for the workers and the fire service. | Matt Wrack at the FBU said the government "must realise firefighters cannot accept proposals that would have such devastating consequences" for the workers and the fire service. |
| He said: "Shorter strike periods have illustrated the strength of feeling amongst firefighters whilst limiting disruption to the fire service, the public and our members' working lives." | He said: "Shorter strike periods have illustrated the strength of feeling amongst firefighters whilst limiting disruption to the fire service, the public and our members' working lives." |
| But he said the government was "ploughing ahead", making the longer strikes necessary. | But he said the government was "ploughing ahead", making the longer strikes necessary. |
| Recent pensions contributions increases, to 14.2% for most firefighters, meant they were now one of the highest in the public sector, the FBU said. | Recent pensions contributions increases, to 14.2% for most firefighters, meant they were now one of the highest in the public sector, the FBU said. |
| Will you be participating in the eight day strike? Do you have other public sector workers in your family who will be taking part in other strikes? You can email your views to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject 'Strikes'. |