Firefighters and control room staff have voted overwhelmingly to strike in a dispute over pay. It marks the UK's first fire service strike over pay since 2003.
Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) backed walkouts by 88 per cent on a huge turnout of 73 per cent after earlier rejecting a 5 per cent pay offer.
The union said it was giving the Government and employers 10 days to make an improved offer before deciding its next move. No proposed dates have been given yet.
Matt Wrack, General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said it was a 'last resort' but that the current offer on the table would mean 'significant cuts' to real term wages.
He said: "Firefighters across the UK have spoken. The Fire Brigades Union has a decisive mandate for strike action. This is an overwhelming vote for strike action against an offer which would mean further significant cuts to real terms wages for firefighters and control room staff. They have already lost at least 12 per cent of the value of their pay since 2010.
"This is an absolute last resort for our members. The responsibility for any disruption to services lies squarely with fire service employers and government ministers. Rishi Sunak's government has refused to make funding available for a decent pay offer to firefighters and control staff.
"Firefighters were among Britain's Covid heroes who kept frontline services going during the pandemic. The Prime Minister has badly misjudged the public mood by imposing pay cuts on key workers.
"Our members risk their health and safety, and sometimes their lives, round the clock to keep people safe and serve their communities. However, with inflation and energy bills rocketing, they are now increasingly struggling to pay the bills or to afford the basics.
"The government and the employers have the power to stop strikes from happening by making a credible offer that can resolve this dispute. The ball is in their court. We have delayed calling strikes to allow the employers to meet us and to make a new offer. I hope they take that opportunity. Otherwise, in the coming weeks, we intend to announce a series of strike dates and industrial action."
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