.EIGHT DAYS OF FIRE STRIKES:
The eight consecutive days of strikes will take place at the following times:
• Monday, July 14: 6am – 8am and 5pm – 7pm
• Tuesday, July 15: 6am – 8am and 5pm – 7pm
• Wednesday, July 16: 6am – 8am and 5pm – 7pm
• Thursday, July 17: 6am – 8am and 5pm – 7pm
• Friday, July 18: 6am – 8am and 11pm – 1am
• Saturday, July 19: 11am – 1pm and 11pm – 1am
• Sunday, July 20: 5pm – 7pm
• Monday, July 21: 6am – 8am and 5pm – 7pm
Firefighters in Burnham-On-Sea are taking part in an eight-day nationwide strike from today (Monday, July 14th).
The Fire Brigades Union says firefighters in services across England and Wales are taking part in the strike as part of a long-running dispute with the Government over pay and pensions.
The eight consecutive days of strikes will take place at different times over the next week, as shown above.
The FBU has been in an ongoing row over pensions stretching back into last year over proposals to increase the contributions firefighters make to their pensions, which the union says could cost £4,000 a year.
Brent Thorley, the south west FBU secretary, said: “If negotiations were going well with the Government we would not be holding industrial action, so it is a bit of a Mexican stand-off. I think in Northern Ireland they are approaching a deal and in Scotland they are not striking because they are nearing an acceptable deal. It just seems like the Government in England and Wales, the Government in Westminster, is very reluctant to negotiate a fair deal with us.”
The FBU also objects to raising the retirement age to 60, making tough physical tests harder to pass. On top of that it is objecting to proposals which could see firefighters who do not pass the tests being sacked and unable to claim their pension until they reach the national retirement age of 67.
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service says it has “substantial contingency plans” in place to ensure that it continues to respond to emergency incidents. Firefighters in Burnham-On-Sea say they would respond to any serious incidents where lives are at stake.
