Two more days of strikes for firefighters
SUNDERLAND firefighters will strike on two different days next month.
It comes as a national dispute with the Government over pensions continues.
Ministers want firefighters to work up to the age of 60 but the Fire Brigades Union argues that that is too old for people to be fighting fires.
Union members will now hold strike action on Friday, from 6.30pm to 11pm, and on Monday, November 4, the day before Bonfire Night, from 6am until 8am. Members of the FBU previously went on strike on September 25, although a five- hour walk- out planned for October 19 was called off on October 18.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service’s chief fire officer, Tom Capeling, said: “The service has plans in place to offer a limited response service during industrial action.
“These plans have been in place for a number of years and we put them into action during the initial period of industrial action by the FBU on September 25.
“They are based on a reduced number of appliances, strategically placed across Tyne and Wear according to risk and the ability to maintain the best speed of response.
“As ever, our appliances are available to attend incidents across the whole of Tyne and Wear and their attendance at incidents will be prioritised according to the risk to life and property.”