Firefighters are set to stage fresh strikes over the next couple of weeks, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has announced.
All FBU members – except those working in control centres in England and Wales – will cease to work from 7pm until midnight on December 24, from 6.30pm until 0.30am on December 31 and from 6.30am to 8.30am on January 3.
On December 24, no FBU members in Scotland and none of those employed in control centres in England, Scotland and Wales will work voluntary overtime – the first time that firefighters across the three nations are involved in joint industrial action.
The latest industrial action, which follows two four-hour strikes on December 13 and 14, is being held to protest against Government plans to increase firefighters’ pensions contributions and raise the retirement age from 55 to 60.
There are ongoing negotiations in Scotland which have not yet led to a satisfactory result, although the talks have made enough progress to prevent strikes among Scottish FBU members.
Copyright Press Association 2013