Firefighters vote to strike over pay deal
Stirling crews will join colleagues in‘last resort’action
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 Ukwide 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. The Prime Minister has badly misjudged the public mood by imposing pay cuts on key workers.
“Our members risk their health and safety, and sometimes their lives, round the clock to keep people safe and serve their communities. However, with inflation and energy bills rocketing, they are now increasingly struggling to pay the bills or to afford the basics.
“The government and the employers have the power to stop strikes from happening by making a credible offer that can resolve this dispute. The ball is in their court.
The union also revealed it had given the UK Government and employers until February 9 to produce an improved offer for its members.
SFRS interim deputy chief officer Stuart Stevens said: “I wholly support a pay increase for our firefighters and absolutely recognise the right of firefighters to strike.
“The FBU represents many firefighters in Scotland and therefore any strike action will have an impact on our emergency response.
“As a fire and rescue service, we have a legal and moral duty to provide an emergency response to the communities of Scotland, including during periods of industrial action.
“I want to assure the public that we are developing contingency plans to enact during any strike and we will respond to any emergency where there is a risk to life or a clear sign of fire.”