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Strikes by firefighters look set to go ahead this week after the Fire Brigade Union criticised an independent review of their pay, which recommended an 11 per cent wage rise tied to service reforms.
The suggested pay increase, which is nowhere near meeting the union's demand for 40 per cent, comes just two days before strike action is scheduled to start.
Fire Brigade Union (FBU) leader Andy Gilchrist said there was nothing new in Sir George Bain's long-awaited independent report, which suggested a 4 per cent rise this year followed by 7 per cent in 2003.
He said: "I don't consider 11 per cent over two years to be either substantial or significant."
Planned strike dates:
- 13-15 November; Starts and ends at 1800 GMT
- 22-30 November; Starts/ ends 0900
- 4-12 December; Starts/ ends 0900
- 16-24 December; Starts/ ends 0900
