Firefighters walk out again in pensions row

Firefighters from across the West Midlands and Staffordshire took part in a walkout between 6am and 8am as part of an ongoing row. It follows further strike action on Friday night. #

During today's strikes there were three emergency calls in the West Midlands. Crews were called to a serious crash on Great Charles Street Queensway in Birmingham, as well as false alarms in Smethwick and Wolverhampton.

Area Commander Paul Burnham, Head of Emergency Response for WMFS, who coordinated the brigade's contingency plan during the strikes, said: "The two-hour period of industrial action presented us with challenges, but we were able to provide a level of service to our communities in line with our business continuity plans. We had 14 fire engines and four of our Brigade Response Vehicles available.

"We responded to a total of three incidents, the most serious of which was a collision involving a car and a pedestrian near Birmingham city centre. We were able to provide our usual level of response and support at the scene."

Under Government proposals the retirement age for firefighters will rise from 55 to 60.

But the Fire Brigades Union fears workers will be made redundant if they fail fitness tests and are unable to find other work in the fire service.

Now they claim fire minister Brandon Lewis has worsened his offer on pensions and retirement age.

They claim there is no guarantee firefighters will not be sacked without access to a full pension as their fitness declines in their 50s.

Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack said: "By worsening the proposals for firefighters' pensions, the government has now put a further obstacle in the way of negotiations, but after two years of talks the Fire Brigades Union remain committed to a resolution.

"No firefighter wanted a strike, but we must defend the fire service, public safety and our pensions. The situation has now been exacerbated by ill-informed interventions by Chief Fire

Officers which completely contradict government claims that nobody will be sacked."

The union claims chief officers are now saying firefighters will have a 'choice' of being sacked.

Today's two-hour strike coincided with rush hour and the return of the schools following the half term holiday.

West Midlands Fire Service had issued safety advice to people ahead of the strike, urging them to allow extra time for journeys.

They also warned them to do one last check around the house to make sure electrical items were all switched off.

Meanwhile, hundreds of managers at Crown Post Offices were going on strike today in a row over pay.

Unite says its members have not received a pay rise since June 2011.