Brigades braced 
for fourth walkout

Hundreds of firefighters across Yorkshire will join colleagues from across the country on the picket line again today as they stage their fourth strike in a row over pensions.

The region’s four brigades said they were confident in their contingency plans, which had proved effective during the last three rounds of industrial action.

About half of West Yorkshire’s 53 fire engines will be out of action from 10am to 2pm during the walkout by members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Only eight of South Yorkshire’s fleet will be in operation and crews will not attend automatic fire alarms unless they are backed up by a 999 call.

Both brigades, along with Humberside, have volunteers on stand-by to provide emergency cover.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it had not taken the step as many rural stations were staffed mainly by part-time or on-call firefighters, many of whom are not union members. Extra fully-trained staff were being put on in larger towns, it added.

The strike is the fourth since September in a row over Government pension reforms that include pushing firefighters’ retirement age from 55 to 60.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said firefighters forced to retire before 60 because of declining fitness could now receive pensions of just over £9,000 a year as a result of the latest proposals.

He said: “Firefighters simply want an affordable and workable pension that reflects the job we do. We’re keen to resolve this through negotiations, but the Government is simply ignoring all the evidence we have submitted.”

Fire Minister Brandon Lewis insisted the offer on the table was still “generous”.