FIREFIGHTERS in the town will be walking out next weekend as a row over pensions continues. 

The Fire Brigades Union has announced industrial action will take place Friday, May 2 from 12 to 5pm, Saturday May 3 between 2pm and 2am and Sunday May 4, from 10am to 3pm.

There will also be a ban on voluntary overtime from 3pm on May 4 until 12pm on May 9.

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “After three years of negotiations and an intense four months presenting an indisputable, evidence-based case for the need to ensure a pension scheme that takes into account the unique occupation of firefighting, the government is still burying its head in the sand.

“Several members of government were only too keen to praise firefighters during the winter floods but their words amount to nothing when they simultaneously ignore issues that threaten the future of firefighters and their families. 

“Nevertheless, we remain totally committed to resolving the dispute through negotiation, and are ready to meet to consider a workable proposal as soon as possible.”
 

Members have described Government proposals to increase the pension age to 60 as ‘unachievable and dangerous’ and went out on strike several times last year with the last walk out on January 3 this year. 

Following the last meeting of the union’s executive council, the union wrote to the fire minister saying that if they had not received any proposals by 24 April, they would conclude that the government was unwilling or unable to offer any improvement.

A spokesman added no new proposals had been presented and the union’s executive council unanimously decided to take further industrial action.