Fire Brigades Union hits out at Government ministers ahead of strike

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has said Government ministers have ignored three written requests in recent weeks to try and resolve a long-running row

over pensions.

Firefighters will strike again on Wednesday 25th February for 24 hours from 7am.

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Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “Government ministers have ignored three written requests in the last few weeks by the union to meet to try to resolve this dispute.”

“Government ministers are quick to call this union ‘militant’ and yet it’s them who still refuse to talk to us when we remain ready to meet and negotiate at any time.”

“Firefighters from all across the UK are attending a rally in Westminster on Wednesday in a ‘No More Lies’ protest aiming to hold this Government accountable for the way it has misled Parliament, the public and firefighters alike.”

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This will coincide with a 24 hour strike by firefighters in England.

“The strike is confined to England because the Scottish Government have significantly improved its earlier pension offer to take account of a concern that firefighters are being unfairly penalised if they retire at age 55,” Mr Wrack added.

“The Welsh Government have recently followed suit and also improved its offer in this way.”

“In Northern Ireland, legislation has been agreed that firefighters should be able to retire with an unreduced pension from age 55 instead of the 60 that has been imposed elsewhere.”