Message of support

                    

 

The Northwest Probation & CAFCASS branch of UNISON sends its support to Firefighters in England who have announced a significant escalation of strike action, with four days of strikes commencing on 31 October until 4 November.

This follows a refusal from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to bring any new offer to the table over pensions, despite two months of talks.

We believe that the FBU has negotiated in good faith and has taken up every opportunity to make its case and to seek changes to the government’s pension plans, which the union says are expensive and unworkable.

Despite promising statements from Penny Mordaunt, the Westminster fire minister, it is now clear the government does not want to resolve this dispute and is spoiling for a fight.

It shows you members commitment to finding a solution as you remain committed to resolving this dispute in the interests of our members and the public at large.”

The Westminster government now stands isolated as the ONLY government in the United Kingdom which has offered no new proposals, with Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales all putting forward new proposals for firefighters to consider.

FBU members do not take this strike action lightly but have been left with no alternative.

We will advise all our members of your dispute and encourage them to support picket lines.