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Firefighters to swell the ranks of July 10 strikers

FIREFIGHTERS will swell the ranks of two million other public-sector workers when they walk out next Thursday, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) announced yesterday.

The firefighters’ action will be the latest in their long-running dispute with the government over pensions.

Unions Unite, Unison, civil servants' PCS and teachers NUT are already committed to the biggest mass strike in England and Wales in decades.

Public-sector workers have suffered pay freezes and below-inflation increases which have seen the value of their wages fall year after year while many face their services being hived off to privateers to face even worse pay and conditions.

The firefighters will walk out at 10am on Thursday and stay out until 7pm. The strike will be the 15th in their campaign of resistance to the government’s vicious attack on their pensions.

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: “The FBU has wanted to settle our dispute for a long time, but the government at Westminster is simply not listening.

“We are therefore proud to take strike action alongside our colleagues in other unions on July 10.

“The fact that this government has united so many workers to take strike action against them is a testament to the failure of their policies.

“They are destroying our public services and wrecking the lives of millions.

“If they won’t listen and won’t negotiate then this is the result — and they should face more of the same if necessary.”

The government is imposing increased pension contributions on firefighters and demanding they maintain front-line fitness levels until they are 60.

Workers face losing up to half their pensions if they are not fit enough to maintain front-line duties.

Mr Wrack added: “Firefighting is a dangerous and physically demanding job which requires specific fitness standards. It is obvious to everyone that it is more and more difficult to meet those standards in your 50s compared to your 20s.

“Firefighters in that position face a stark choice of being sacked or losing half their pension.”

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