Firefighters in Burnham-On-Sea staged another walkout this morning (Monday) in the continuing nationwide dispute over pay and pensions.
The strike, the third in recent weeks, came after the Fire Brigade Union (FBU) claimed the Government had worsened its offer on retirement age.
Today’s strike ran from 6am to 8am, but a contingency level of fire and rescue services was in place to deal with more serious incidents across Somerset.
The dispute is over pension age changes which will see firefighters’ retirement age increased from 55 to 60, and the union fears they will be made redundant if they fail fitness tests and are unable to find other work in the fire service.
FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: “By worsening the proposals for firefighters’ pensions, the government has now put a further obstacle in the way of negotiations, but after two years of talks the Fire Brigades Union remain committed to a resolution.”
“No firefighter wanted a strike, but we must defend the fire service, public safety and our pensions.”
