Firefighters to strike this evening

Firefighters in England and Wales will walk out on strike between 7pm and midnight tonight (Christmas Eve) in their long running dispute with the government over pensions.

The Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue service (DSFRS) have said that they have “substantial contingency plans in place to ensure that we will continue to respond to emergency incidents.”

The strike comes after last night’s storm saw DSFRS make over 250 calls to weather related incidents last night including several life threatening emergencies

The fire brigades Union (FBU) has a recall agreement for severe cases such as last nights storm, which could see striking firefighters recalled to service on a voluntary basis.

The criteria for such a recall is very strict so would only be implemented in cases of widespread public danger rather than small scale incidents.

Chief Fire Officer for Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, Lee Howell, said: “Fire and Rescue Services have contingency plans and ours will again be put into place ahead of these dates for industrial action over the festive period.

“Our plans have worked well during the previous periods of action, but we are asking the public to help us again by taking extra care during the festive period. We will continue to respond to 999 calls and do everything we can to keep the public safe.”

FBU officials will also meet fire minister Brandon Lewis today to discuss the dispute for the first time since October.

FBU General Secretary, Matt Wrack, said: “Firefighters on duty over the festive period don’t have much to celebrate this year and tonight’s strikes will remind the government of the service we provide 24 hour a day, 365 days a year, every year of our careers.

“Nobody wants these strikes but firefighters remain extremely angry over the prospect of being priced out of their pensions and facing the sack owing to the government’s ludicrous pretence that men and women of 60 can meet the same fitness standards as 20 year olds.

“The government at Westminster has acknowledged our concerns but not done anything to seriously address them, so we welcome the chance to meet the government and hope this afternoon’s meeting provides a genuine dialogue.”

The dispute is primarily on firefighters pensions which the FBU argue are excessive and unsuited to the intensely physical nature of the job.

As a result of a meeting between the Fire Minister and FBU officials on 18 October, firefighters suspended the next day's strike, although industrial action resumed after the minister’s “promising words failed to turn into concrete assurances.”

Further strikes are scheduled between 6.30pm on Tuesday 31 December and 12.30am on Wednesday 1 January and 6.30am and 8.30am on Friday 3 January.