Firefighters launch consultative ballot on pay

Firefighters and fire control staff are being balloted today over to whether accept a 5% pay offer from employers. The Fire Brigades Union’s executive council is recommending that members vote to reject the offer, which represents a significant real-terms pay cut and follows a decade of real-terms pay cuts in the fire and rescue service.

This is a consultative ballot on the pay offer itself, with rejection not automatically leading to strike action.

Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said:

“We are a democratic union led by our members. It is firefighters and control staff who will decide any action that the union takes on pay. Firefighters have been treated appallingly by their employers, and by the government over the last decade. Pay is down by nearly £4,000 in real terms and that is why the union’s executive council is recommending that members reject this latest offer.

“Our members worked throughout the pandemic to help protect their communities. They delivered food, moved the bodies of the dead and delivered other vital extra duties. To try and thank them with a massive real-terms pay cut is absolutely disgusting. Our members have had enough.”

Online and postal ballots are being sent out today Monday 31^st October, with the ballot closing on Monday 14 November.

For more information or interviews please contact Ben Duncan-Duggal on ben.duncan-duggal@fbu.org.uk or 07825635224.

According to Income Data Research firefighters’ pay has been cut by nearly £4,000 in real terms compared to 200