UK Firefighters’ Strikes Postponed After Increased Pay Offer

New London Fire Brigade recruits go through their paces during a drill at a Fire station in East London on July 21, 2022. Aaron Chown/PA Media

Planned strikes by UK firefighters have been postponed after employers put forward an increased pay offer.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) had planned to announce dates for strike action after more than 80 percent of its members who voted in a ballot in December backed industrial action.

But the union said on Thursday that it has been offered a 7 percent pay rise backdated to July 2022, and then 5 percent from July this year.

Union officials will now put the new offer to a ballot of its members, and has postponed the announcement of strike dates pending the outcome.

FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack said: “This offer is testament to the power of collective action through the Fire Brigades Union. Last year we were offered an insulting 2 percent. The employers have now revised their position.

“We have achieved this increase because of the massive vote in favour of strike action by firefighters and control staff across the country, which made clear the strength of feeling among firefighters about cuts to their wages.”

He said firefighters have suffered a real-term pay cut of at least 12 percent since 2010, adding, “While the offer is improved from last year, it still amounts to a real-terms pay cut.”

The union leader said members will have “honest and sober” internal discussions and “frontline firefighters and control room staff will make the decision on whether this pay offer is considered a real improvement.”

He said the ballot is likely to take a few weeks, during which no strikes will be held.

NHS Strikes Continue

Meanwhile, strike actions are continuing in the National Health Service (NHS), after nurses who are members of the Royal College of Nursing walked out on Monday and Tuesday this week.

Up to 4,500 physiotherapists who are members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) walked out at 33 NHS trusts in England on Thursday, though they will continue to provide emergency life-saving care including covering intensive care and respiratory on-call services.

Members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) on the picket line outside King's College Hospital, London, on Feb. 9, 2023. James Manning/PA Media

The CSP accused the UK government, which manages the NHS in England, of being “intransigent” in refusing to discuss pay for the current financial year, which has sparked walkouts across the NHS in recent months.

Claire Sullivan, director of employment relations at the CSP, said, “Our members are sick and tired of hearing the UK government claim they are open to talks with the health unions when they have not lifted a finger to avert strikes in England.”

“It’s inexplicable they won’t even discuss the current dispute, despite seeing in Scotland and Wales what can be achieved through negotiation,” she added.

Unions in Wales and Scotland have largely suspended similar action after the local governments came forward with improved pay offers.

The GMB union, which represents ambulance crews, said their members have been treated unfairly.

Rachel Harrison, GMB national officer, said: “Firefighters have been made an offer and suspended their strikes but the government still won’t talk pay with ambulance workers.

“Ambulance workers in England are feeling like second-class citizens as Welsh and Scottish governments make offers on pay and now it looks like they are being treated like second-class emergency workers too.”

Ambulance crews and call handlers are due to walk out again on Friday.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “It is regrettable some union members are taking further industrial action at a time when the NHS is already under pressure.

“The health and social care secretary has had constructive meetings with unions, including the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, and has been clear he wants to continue to discuss what is fair and affordable as part of the 2023/24 pay process.”

University Staff on Strike

Also on Thursday, university staff who are members of the University and College Union (UCU) are on strike in disputes over pay, working conditions, and pensions.

Around 70,000 members of the UCU have walked out across 150 universities, which threatens disruption to lectures and seminars.

Further strikes are due to take place on Friday after the union rejected a pay offer from employers, with 15 more days of walkouts planned for February and March.

The UCU expects 2.5 million students to be affected by its strike action over the next two months.

The Universities and Colleges Employers Association, representing 144 employers, said it has made a “full and final pay offer” of between 5 and 8 percent. This offer has been described as the highest uplift in nearly 20 years.

UCU General Secretary Jo Grady has described the 5 percent pay offer for many university staff as a “huge real-terms pay cut” that would leave members “worse off.”

She said: “We are striking for 48 hours this week and will take escalating action until we get a fair deal. University bosses hold over £40 billion in reserves, but they would rather hoard that money than use just a fraction of it to settle our dispute and bring an end to the unprecedented strike action that is hitting universities.”

PA Media contributed to this report.