To take into consideration a fresh, higher salary offer, firefighters have temporarily suspended their strike action.
A vote to leave the workforce in December 2022 was approved by 88% of Fire Brigades Union members. It would have been the first fire attack to affect the whole UK since 2003.
However, on Tuesday, the union was given a better offer: a wage raise of 7%, retroactive to July 1, 2022.
The plan would also call for a further wage increase of 5% starting on July 1, 2023.
The strikes have been suspended even though there isn’t a formal agreement yet since union members will be voting on the offer.
“We have secured this rise because of the enormous vote in favor of strike action by firemen and control staff throughout the nation, which made obvious the depth of sentiment among firefighters about cutbacks to their salaries,” said Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union.
Firefighters and control room personnel would now “make the choice on whether this compensation offer is deemed a meaningful improvement,” he added, noting that the offer would still result in a real terms wage decrease.
He stated, “Last year, we were promised an insulting two percent.” The employers have since changed their stance.
Compared to the five percent wage raise proposed in November 2022, this is a huge boost.
In London, a certified fireman may make up to £37,032, while a trainee can make up to £28,730.
Nurses and ambulance workers took a strike earlier this week, and further action is expected this week.
Mr. Wrack said it’s too early to predict if union members would accept the offer while speaking to BBC Radio.
“I don’t believe there will be much jubilation,” you say. They have been the target of pay assaults for 12 years. They won’t be overjoyed because our members are smart people who will decide whether to call a strike or not.
“They’ll consider what’s happening in the larger industrial scene.”
It was believed that fire services had been preparing its office employees as a fallback to assist with emergency call outs in anticipation of the possible strike.
Employees in the fields of cleaning, human resources, building safety, and finance may have been included.
Mr. Wrack said when the original strike decision was made: “This is an absolute last option for our people.” Employers in the fire service and government officials are entirely to blame for any service interruptions.
The Covid heroes of Britain who kept frontline services running throughout the epidemic included firefighters. By imposing salary cutbacks on important employees, the prime minister gravely miscalculated the public’s reaction.
The unions have been holding strikes for months, but during the Christmas holiday, the severity of the protests considerably intensified.
»Firefighters postpone first UK-wide protest since 2003 to discuss 7% salary raise«