Firefighters to strike on Christmas and New Year’s Eve

As with previous strikes, all Fire Brigades Union members in England and Wales will stop work apart from those working in control centres.

In Shropshire it’s predominantly wholetime fire stations, situated in Shrewsbury and Telford that will be impacted by the planned strikes. Part time, or On-call, staffed fire stations, which are largely based in the more rural areas of Shropshire, are less likely to be affected.

The Fire Brigades Union has announced the strikes will take place between 7pm and midnight on Christmas Eve and 6.30pm on New Year’s Eve and 12.30am on Wednesday 1 January. A further strike will take place between 6.30am and 8.30am on Friday 3 January.

FBU General Secretary, Matt Wrack, said: “Firefighters provide a first-class standard of service 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, and these strikes will remind government just how reliant they are on our members’ professionalism, commitment and flexibility.

“However, there should be no need for industrial action, and it’s absurd that firefighters’ concerns over pensions have not been addressed already.

“The government must stop claiming they are negotiating when they have refused to talk for two months and insist on forcing through proposals that are unaffordable, unworkable and unfair.

“By simply conceding common sense and allowing firefighters a fair deal, the government could end this industrial action today.”