Fire strike stopped for mediation
A planned eight-day walkout by firefighters in South Yorkshire which was due to start today has been called off.
The South Yorkshire Fire Brigades Union said it has suspended the strike after the authority and fire service management agreed to its demands that the ongoing dispute should be referred to national arbitration. The union said it has also temporarily halted all other planned industrial action.
Management and union officials have been battling for several weeks over changes to firefighters' shift times and other working practices. A series of strikes were held late last year over the proposed shake-up.