The Fire Brigades’ Union (FBU) has announced plans to strike over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
The planned industrial action in relation to its national dispute over pensions with central government.
Members of the FBU plan to hold three strikes on:
- Friday 2nd May 2014 (12-5pm)
- Saturday 3rd May 2014 (2pm-2am)
- Sunday 4th May (10am-3pm)
A press release from County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service today said: “We’ver very disappointed that there is still no negotiated resolution to the national dispute and that these periods of industrial action and action have been planned.
“Should they go ahead, these planned strikes will be the 10th, 11th and 12th to take place in the dispute over reform of firefighter pension schemes, since September 2013.
“The Government’s decision to withdraw military support during periods of industrial action means that for the past five years fire authorities across the country have had to plan and prepare to be self-reliant.”
The statement added that fire authorities have a statutory responsibility to provide business continuity plans in the event of industrial action by their staff.
To fulfil this responsibility Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service has robust plans in place to provide a fire and rescue emergency response from strategic locations across County Durham and Darlington Borough, it added.
“The service will use trained fire officers to both drive and staff fire appliances along with other emergency response vehicles during any period of national strike action,” it said.
“These staff are professional firefighters with years of experience responding to fires and other emergencies.
“The officers will work alongside non FBU firefighters who will be working as normal and staff who choose not to participate in any strike action.”
In the lead up to the strikes, the service will continue to raise awareness of fire and other risks within the local community and with businesses across County Durham and Darlington.
The service’s website at www.ddfire.gov.uk will carry information about the strike action as well as practical information for the public, businesses and organisations about how to stay safe.