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
