Firefighters in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have voted in favour of taking strike action in a row over pay.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU), the democratic voice of firefighters and other workers within fire and rescue services across the UK, have opted to delay strikes until it meets with employers to discuss a revised pay offer.

This meeting is set to take place on 8 February 2023.

On 14 November 2022, FBU members voted to reject the 5% pay offer from employers, which represented another real-terms pay cut, and move forward with the fair pay campaign. 

The FBU hope to receive a pay offer, adding that since 2010, firefighters have seen a real time drop of earnings of 12%.

Over 80% of voting members voted in favour of taking strike action, with only 26% chasing not to vote.

If an agreement cannot be reach, strikes will likely take place near the end of the month. This walkout would be the first national strike for firefighters since 2003.

The FBU said it has a negotiated agreement in place so that striking firefighters will respond to major incidents, with the agreements made between services locally.

advertisement