Firefighters could strike over pay for first time since 2003 after earnings drop by 12%

If members of the Fire Brigades Union vote for action, it will result in the first nationwide fire service strike over pay since 2003

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: “Firefighters have faced a sustained attack on pay for more than a decade, with average pay falling by about £4,000 in real terms.“Facing double-digit inflation and rocketing energy bills, they are now being told to put up with an even bigger real-terms pay cut.“People join the fire service because they want to help people and serve their community.“On Monday, we will learn our members’ verdict on this derisory pay offer.

Firefighters were given a 2 per cent pay offer in June and FBU members rejected a below-inflation 5 per cent pay offer in November. The union opened its strike ballot on 5 December, which will only give a mandate for strike action if more than 50 per cent of the FBU’s membership of more than 30,000 fire service staff, vote in it.

Firefighters went on strike over pensions almost a decade ago and there was a lengthy strike over pay almost 20 years ago. The ballot comes as research by the FBU and the University of Central Lancashire found firefighters with

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