Firefighters will strike on eight consecutive days this month as they ramp up their campaign to protect their pensions from Con-Dem wreckers.

After joining next Thursday’s two million-strong public-sector strike they will stage a series of daily walk-outs from July 14.

They’ll stage two two-hour strikes a day until July 21.

Ministers have imposed three savage increases on the contributions 32,000 firefighters in England and Wales must make towards their pensions, and more increases are planned.

And firefighters will also be expected to maintain front-line fitness until they’re 60 instead of 55 or lose half their pensions.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said the proposals are “unacceptable, unworkable, unrealistic and nothing short of a vicious attack on firefighters’ pensions.”

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: “The government must realise that firefighters cannot accept proposals that would have such devastating consequences for their futures, their families’ futures — and the future of the fire and rescue service itself.

“Three years of negotiations have come to nothing because the government is simply unwilling to compromise or even listen to reason despite a huge amount of evidence showing their planned scheme is unworkable.”

The union says a recent academic report by the University of Bath revealed that higher fitness levels are required for firefighting than those suggested by the government, undermining its case for them to work until 60. 

Firefighters have staged a series of short strikes since October last year.

Mr Wrack said: “Shorter strike periods have illustrated the strength of feeling amongst firefighters while limiting disruption to the fire service, the public and our members’ working lives.

“But the government is merely ploughing ahead, forcing firefighters to react.”