Firefighters strikeagain
FIREFIGHTERS in Hampshire and Surrey will again down hoses to protest against changes to their pensions, with strike number 15 in the long-running dispute scheduled for today (Thursday) and more to follow next week.
Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) today joined other public sector workers including teachers, civil servants and government workers, taking industrial action over issues such as pay and workloads. FBU members are striking from 10am to 7pm.
Starting on Monday, however, eight days of consecutive strikes will be held as the FBU bares its teeth over what it describes as ‘vicious’ attacks on the wellbeing of members.
The strikes will run from 6am-8am and 5pm-7pm Monday to Thursday, with further periods on Friday, from 6am-8am; Saturday, between 11am and 1pm and 11pm and 1am; and Sunday, from 5pm-7pm. Monday July 21 will round off action with further 6am-8am and 5pm7pm strikes.
FBU chairman for Hampshire, Nigel McCullen, said the strikes were having more of an effect than people realised.
“That’s the perception, that it’s running very smoothly,” he said. “But they’re not coping. I’ve been speaking to Hampshire and these strikes will seriously stretch them. The resilience from strike to strike is getting lower. It’s sheer luck there hasn’t been a major incident, but no one wants something to happen.”
He said a plan was in place whereby the FBU could abandon the strike in the event of something catastrophic.
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “The FBU has wanted to settle our dispute for a long time, but the government at Westminster is simply not listening. We are, therefore, proud to take strike action alongside our colleagues in other unions.”
He said the government was ‘wrecking the lives of millions’ with its policies.
“If they won’t listen and won’t negotiate, then this is the result — and they should face more of the same if necessary,” added Mr Wrack.
The FBU argues new pensions offered by the government, which require members to work until they are 60 and contribute more in payments, ignore the physical demands of the job. The FBU has been negotiating with the government for three years but has been unable to reach agreement.
Hampshire County Council leader Roy Perry assured vulnerable people and children in the council’s care they would be looked-after during industrial action.
Schools were expecting to be fully or partially closed today, including Henry Tyndale School in Farnborough.