Military on standby as union ballots firefighters on strike action

The
Fire Brigades Union has confirmed that its members are to be balloted on new
strike action.

According
to website Ananova, thousands of military personnel are to be put on standby to
provide cover if the strikes go ahead next month.

The
ballot, which will begin next week, comes after a long-running pay dispute with
local authority employers.

By Quentin Reade