STRIKE action by firefighters has been postponed following an increased pay offer from Fire and Rescue Service employers.
At talks on Wednesday, bosses put forward a revised offer. It includes a seven per cent rise which is backdated to July last year and another five per cent from this July.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) will now ballot members on the deal after more than 80% of members voted in December to back strike action.
If industrial action had gone ahead, it would have been the first UK-wide fire strikes over pay since 2003.
The union has said it will have an “honest and sober” discussion of the offer, which it says still amounts to a real terms pay cut given the rate of inflation.
FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: “This offer is testament to the power of collective action through the FBU. Last year we were offered an insulting two per cent. The employers have now revised their position.
“We have achieved this increase because of the massive vote in favour of strike action by firefighters and control staff across the country, which made clear the strength of feeling among firefighters about cuts to their wages.”
Wrack added that the average firefighter has lost 12 per cent of the value of their pay since 2010.
He continued: “Frontline firefighters and control room staff will make the decision on whether this pay offer is considered a real improvement.
“Our internal discussions will be honest and sober. While the offer is improved from last year, it still amounts to a real terms pay cut.
“Meanwhile, plans to announce a series of strike dates and industrial action will be postponed, pending the outcome of the ballot.”
He added that “the mandate for strike action by firefighters remains”.
