Firefighters could seek strike action as union claims pay was cut by 12% in 12 years

The Fire Brigades Union is recommending members reject a 2% pay offer. The FBU claims that, between 2009 and 2021, members’ real pay has been cut by 12%, or nearly £4,000

Firefighters today joined a mounting list of cost of living hit workers threatening strike action over pay.

The Fire Brigades Union is recommending members reject a 2% pay offer.

The FBU claims that, between 2009 and 2021, members’ real pay has been cut by 12%, or nearly £4,000.

Matt Wrack, the union’s general secretary said: “This is utterly inadequate and would deliver a further cut in real wages to firefighters in all roles in the midst of the cost-of-living crisis.

“This latest insulting proposal follows 12 years of government-imposed reductions in real wages.”

Mr Wrack insisted the union and its members “do not consider or take industrial action lightly or without ensuring that all efforts to resolve the issue have been exhausted.”

He said it would be writing to ministers or government departments responsible for fire and rescue services in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland to seek urgent additional funding to enable a “reasonable” pay offer to be made.

It came as 115,000 postal workers at Royal Mail began voting today on whether to strike.

The Communication Workers Union is demanding the firm negotiate a “straight, no-strings” pay increase for employees – rather what it says is a 2% increase.

Workers across big chunks of the private and public section are threatening to walk-outs over pay, and in some cases as conditions as well, in what could turn into a summer of discontent.

The recent rail strikes have spread to everywhere from British Airways to barristers – who staged a second day of action today.

The Unite union today announced it had secured an 18% pay rise for Heathrow-based cabin crew employed by CAE Crewing Services on its contract for Scandinavian airline SAS Connect.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “This is a game-changing deal for our members.”

She went on: “It will see the reversal of the 10% cut to their wages made during the pandemic and a substantial increase in their pay.

“I strongly advise other aviation employers, including British Airways, to take note. “

And following two 48-hour strike, the union also announced it had sealed an 8.5% pay deal for sheet metal workers and platers employed by Darchem Engineering in Stockton-on-Tees

The CWU will decide in the coming weeks whether to mount a campaign of industrial action.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We believe there are no grounds for industrial action.”