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| Firefighters to strike over eight days in August - FBU | Firefighters to strike over eight days in August - FBU |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Firefighters in England and Wales are to strike over eight consecutive days in an ongoing row with the government, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) says. | Firefighters in England and Wales are to strike over eight consecutive days in an ongoing row with the government, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) says. |
| The latest action, from 9 August, will be held over three hours each day during the eight-day period, it said. | The latest action, from 9 August, will be held over three hours each day during the eight-day period, it said. |
| The union has said "unsafe and unrealistic" proposals will see firefighters working longer and having their pensions cut. | The union has said "unsafe and unrealistic" proposals will see firefighters working longer and having their pensions cut. |
| The government says the offer is among the most generous in the public sector. | The government says the offer is among the most generous in the public sector. |
| The strikes will take place from 9 August until 16 August, from 12:00-14:00 and 22:59-23:59 BST, the union said. | The strikes will take place from 9 August until 16 August, from 12:00-14:00 and 22:59-23:59 BST, the union said. |
| No industrial action would be taken in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where improved pension proposals are being discussed, the union added. | No industrial action would be taken in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where improved pension proposals are being discussed, the union added. |
| The FBU says union members have already staged walk-outs over 24 days since strikes began in September last year and firefighters have gone on strike for more than 160 hours. | |
| Fitness test fears | Fitness test fears |
| The row centres on ministers' plans to raise firefighters' retirement age from 55 to 60 and increase their pension contributions. | The row centres on ministers' plans to raise firefighters' retirement age from 55 to 60 and increase their pension contributions. |
| The FBU said it feared many members could fail the fitness tests required to remain on active duty in their late 50s, and therefore have to leave the service. | The FBU said it feared many members could fail the fitness tests required to remain on active duty in their late 50s, and therefore have to leave the service. |
| It said proposals would also mean that if firefighters opted for early retirement, the reduction in their pension would be "unacceptably high". | It said proposals would also mean that if firefighters opted for early retirement, the reduction in their pension would be "unacceptably high". |
| However, the government has said the deal on offer was fair. | However, the government has said the deal on offer was fair. |
| FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said it was "absolutely ludicrous that a government can impose a scheme which means that firefighters will have to ride engines and rescue people from fires up to the age of 60". | FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said it was "absolutely ludicrous that a government can impose a scheme which means that firefighters will have to ride engines and rescue people from fires up to the age of 60". |
| "This is unsafe and unrealistic for both firefighters and the public. | "This is unsafe and unrealistic for both firefighters and the public. |
| "We know it, and the public know it, but the government will not listen to the evidence-based case we have made to them," he added. | "We know it, and the public know it, but the government will not listen to the evidence-based case we have made to them," he added. |
| The union asked for "flexible retirement options" to be included in an improved offer. | The union asked for "flexible retirement options" to be included in an improved offer. |