Firefighters set to join winter of strikes as union snubs 5 per cent pay rise
FIREFIGHTERS last night looked set to join a winter of strikes — as rail workers voted for walkouts until summer.
The Fire Brigades Union snubbed a five per cent rise.
Members will now be balloted on whether to take action along with nurses, bus drivers, posties, passport staff, Border Force guards and job centre officials.
It would be firefighters’ first national pay strike since 2003.
General Secretary Matt Wrack said: “Our members worked through the pandemic to help protect their communities, taking on extra duties to do so.
“A further real-terms pay cut is an absolutely disgusting way to thank them.”
READ MORE ON STRIKES
Meanwhile militant RMT chiefs won a fresh mandate to trigger industrial action for six months.
Mick Lynch vowed to continue until Network Rail gives in on pay and conditions.
But Steve Montgomery, chairman of the Rail Delivery Group, said “passengers will be dismayed”.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the “very future of the industry” depends on union bosses working with employers — “not against them”.
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Turmoil to come
By Jack Elsom
BRITAIN is bracing for widespread disruption after bitter pay rows triggered strikes.
Nurses have voted for a walkout ahead of one of the NHS’s toughest winters yet.
Postal workers begin four days of industrial action next week, while 100,000 civil servants have balloted to strike.
Bus driver strikes are set to cause fresh travel chaos on top of months of rail strikes that are to continue.
In Scotland, teachers are ready to walk out.