Firefighters have moved closer to taking industrial action by rejecting a five percent pay increase. Crews and control staff voted overwhelmingly to snub the offer in what union bosses say displays a "remarkable strength of feeling". It was a three percent increase on an offer made in the summer.
Nationally 79% voted to reject the 5% offer, with 78% of eligible Fire Brigades Union members voting in the ballot. The ballot was a consultative ballot of union members on the 5% pay offer and not a ballot for strike action. Next steps will now be decided by the Executive Council, but the union say they will be moving to a ballot on strike action. Around 32,500 members took part in the vote.
The rejection comes after fire service employers on the National Joint Council made the revised five percent offer. An initial offer of two percent had been unanimously refused in July this year.
