Firefighters across UK set to vote on strike over pay, union announces
FIREFIGHTERS across the UK are set to vote on whether or not they will strike over pay.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said 32,500 of its members across the UK will vote in the next few weeks on whether to launch a campaign of industrial action.
The union said the move follows a 2% pay offer made in June, which has not been increased despite the soaring rate of inflation.
The pay offer represents a "significant real-terms pay cut", said the FBU.
The ballot is expected to be held in five weeks' time.
The announcement was made just hours before the new prime minister takes office, and follows a wave of industrial action this summer by tens of thousands of workers.
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FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: "Taking strike action is always a last resort but our employers are increasingly leaving us with no choice.
"There is huge anger among firefighters at falling pay.
"Firefighters must be paid fairly - there is absolutely no question when it comes to this.
"It is the responsibility of fire service employers to provide decent pay offers and that has not happened.
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"The ball is now in the fire service employers' court. It is not too late for them to make a much better pay offer for consideration by our members."
Firefighters went on strike over pensions almost a decade ago and there was a lengthy strike over pay almost 20 years ago.
It comes as commuters will be plunged into travel chaos yet again next month as staff at nine train companies vote to strike.
Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association union (TSSA) will walk out from midday on September 26 for 24 hours.