Firefighters call off strikes after reaching pay deal

Dozens of firefighters were battling a blaze at a heritage-listed church in north-west London early on Friday morning (Aaron Chown/PA)
PA Wire
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Firefighters have overwhelmingly accepted a new pay deal ending the prospect of strike action.

Fire Brigades Union members on Monday voted to accept a seven per cent wage rise backdated to July 2022, plus an additional five per cent from July 2023.

Last month the firefighters and control room staff postponed strikes to vote on the revised pay hike following lengthy talks with employers.

Some 96 per cent of union members voted to accept the pay offer on an 84 per cent turnout, ending the industrial dispute.

Fire Brigades Union General Secretary Matt Wrack said: "The overwhelming vote by FBU members to accept the improved offer means that the dispute is resolved on terms that are favourable to firefighters.

"We pay tribute to members of our union for their determination and unity throughout the past year. Firefighters will now receive two pay increases, including nine months of back pay.

"This result is testament to the power collective action. Without the huge mandate for strike action by firefighters last month, this deal would never have been achieved."

Firefighters voted in January for a nationwide strike, which would have been their first national walkout over pay since 2003.

It came after the union rejected a two per cent pay rise in June last year and a 5 per cent offer in November.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been facing pressure to help end a wave of disruptive strike action by largely public-sector workers.

Nurses, paramedics, teachers, civil servants and rail workers have staged a wave of walk outs in recent months, with more planned.

Trade unions representing workers across a range of sectors have been pushing for pay rises that better reflect double-digit inflation.

Ambulance driver strikes planned for this week have been paused for pay talks with Government.

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