Strikes by firefighters have been postponed after crunch talks yesterday resulted in an improved pay offer, but Greater Manchester crews suggested it may not be enough to avert industrial action. The Fire Brigades Union had rejected an initial two per cent pay rise, and then an improved offer of five percent.
As a result crews were balloted and voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action. But after negotiations with employers, the FBU said it had been offered a seven percent pay rise backdated to July 2022, and then five percent from July this year. It will now ballot members to see if this is acceptable.
As reported in the Manchester Evening News, a team of senior fire officers known as "chaperones" will be used to tackle front-line incidents in the event of crews going on strike in Greater Manchester. They will be joined by "stand-in" firefighters recruited partly in case of industrial action.
