Firefighters’ union to ballot over strike action

The
Fire Brigades Union has decided to ballot firefighters on industrial action
over pay..

The
vote could see the first national strike in the fire service for 25 years.

The
FBU says a series of 24 or 48-hour strikes could begin at the end of October.

Delegates
from all 58 brigades unanimously agreed the move at a special conference of the
Fire Brigades Union.

Firefighters
want a pay rise of nearly 40 per cent to boost salaries from £21,500 to
£30,000.

The
union has rejected an interim 4 per cent offer.

By Quentin Reade