Firefighters vote for "absolute last resort" strike over pay deal

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Firefighters in Stirling and across Scotland are set to head out on strike after rejecting a pay deal.The action has been launched following a UK-wide ballot from the Fire Brigades’ Union saw 88 per cent back the move on a turnout of 73 per cent.The industrial action would be the first in the fire service since 2003, with the FBU membership rebuffing a five per cent pay offer in November - with the union labelling the move as a response of “more than a decade of real terms pay cuts”.Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said: “Firefighters across the UK have spoken.

The Fire Brigades Union has a decisive mandate for strike action.“This is an overwhelming vote for strike action against an offer which would mean further significant cuts to real terms wages for firefighters and control room staff.

They have already lost at least 12 per cent of the value of their pay since 2010.“This is an absolute last resort for our members.

The responsibility for any disruption to services lies squarely with fire service employers and government ministers.“Firefighters were among Britain’s Covid heroes who kept frontline services going during the pandemic.