Firefighters in Perth and Kinross and across Scotland are set to head out on strike for the first time in two decades over a pay dispute.
The industrial action was announced after the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) rejected a five per cent pay rise offer in November labelling the deal a response to “more than a decade of real terms pay cuts”.
FBU memberships’ UK-wide ballot saw 88 per cent back walkouts on a staff turnout of 73 per cent.
The union is giving the UK Government and employers until February 9 to produce an improved offer for members.
Trainee firefighters earn around £24,191 rising to £32,244 after qualification.
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, 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.”
The FBU said it would delay announcing strike dates until after it meets fire service employers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
That meeting is scheduled for February 8 - where the FBU said it hopes to receive a revised pay offer by then.
The union says that since 2010 its members have experienced a 12 per cent drop in real terms earnings and that about one in five firefighter jobs have been cut.
SFRS interim deputy chief officer Stuart Stevens added: “I wholly support a pay increase for our firefighters and absolutely recognise the right of firefighters to strike.
“The FBU represents many firefighters in Scotland and therefore any strike action will have an impact on our emergency response.
“As a fire and rescue service, we have a legal and moral duty to provide an emergency response to the communities of Scotland, including during periods of industrial action.
“I want to assure the public that we are developing contingency plans to enact during any strike and we will respond to any emergency where there is a risk to life or a clear sign of fire.”
Downing Street said the government would urge the FBU to “reconsider and keep negotiating”.
Elena Whitham, Scottish government community safety minister, called the strike threat “disappointing”.
She said: “At this point, we would encourage continued negotiations through the well-established collective bargaining arrangements.”
