Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant'
29th August 2013, 14:56
Members of the Fire Brigades Union have voted in favour of industrial action, in a dispute over pensions.
The move could trigger the first national firefighters' strike in more than a decade.
FBU members in England, Scotland and Wales were balloted, with 78% of them voting in favour.
Under government plans, firefighters in England will get their full pension at 60. Changes to pensions in Scotland and Wales have yet to be settled.
The union says many firefighters will not be able to maintain fitness standards into their late 50s and this will endanger the public.
Under the plans, those retiring early at, for example, 55 will lose thousands of pounds a year, the FBU argues.
The government, however, says the existing arrangements are not affordable and firefighters will still get one of the best public sector pensions.
FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: "Expecting large numbers of 60-year-olds to fight fires and rescue families is dangerous to the public and to firefighters.
"The government is simply ignoring the evidence about the physical demands of firefighting and has been unable to answer our concerns during two years of negotiations.
"None of us want a strike, but we cannot compromise on public and firefighter safety. We hope common sense prevails, and the government returns to the negotiating table."
(BBC News)
The move could trigger the first national firefighters' strike in more than a decade.
FBU members in England, Scotland and Wales were balloted, with 78% of them voting in favour.
Under government plans, firefighters in England will get their full pension at 60. Changes to pensions in Scotland and Wales have yet to be settled.
The union says many firefighters will not be able to maintain fitness standards into their late 50s and this will endanger the public.
Under the plans, those retiring early at, for example, 55 will lose thousands of pounds a year, the FBU argues.
The government, however, says the existing arrangements are not affordable and firefighters will still get one of the best public sector pensions.
FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: "Expecting large numbers of 60-year-olds to fight fires and rescue families is dangerous to the public and to firefighters.
"The government is simply ignoring the evidence about the physical demands of firefighting and has been unable to answer our concerns during two years of negotiations.
"None of us want a strike, but we cannot compromise on public and firefighter safety. We hope common sense prevails, and the government returns to the negotiating table."
(BBC News)