Firefighters could be next to strike over pay


Firefighters and firefighter control staff will be balloted for industrial action within five weeks over this year’s 2% pay offer, the FBU has announced.

Matt Wrack, the union’s general secretary, commented: “Taking strike action is always a last resort. But our employers are increasingly leaving us with no choice. And there is huge anger among firefighters at falling pay.”

The announcement comes as rail, docks, postal and telecoms workers, along with barristers, take industrial action, at levels that are unprecedented in recent years, mainly over below-inflation pay offers (see past Fact Service issues), and while some unions discuss the possibility of coordinated actions.

Also this week, ballots for industrial action opened at universities across the UK over pay, pensions and conditions. According to the UCU lecturers’ union, over 70,000 staff at 150 universities are being balloted across two separate ballots.

In the pay and working conditions dispute, the union’s demands include a pay rise of 12% or RPI (12.3% in July) plus 2%, an agreed framework to eliminate insecure work practices such as zero hours contracts, and action to address workloads.

https://www.fbu.org.uk/news/2022/09/06/firefighters-prepare-ballot-strike-action-over-pay

https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/12494/University-strike-ballots-open-today-amidst-cost-of-living-crisis