West Midlands firefighters vote overwhelmingly to strike
Nearly 90% of FBU members voted to take industrial action.
Firefighters are set to take industrial action, in what will be the first nation-wide walk-out over pay since 2003.
Results from a national ballot by Fire Brigades Union (FBU) came back today, with 88% of members voting to strike on a 73% turnout.
The ballot needed more than a 50% turnout - roughly 30,000 members.
Union members rejected a 5% pay offer in November last year, with a formal strike ballot opening on 5 December.
Workers have seen a 12% drop in real terms earnings since 2010, and around one in five firefighter jobs have been cut.
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said: "Firefighters have faced a sustained attack on pay for more than a decade, with average pay falling by about ÂŁ4,000 in real terms.
"Our members face hazardous situations every day, and sometimes risk their health to do the job. Facing double-digit inflation and rocketing energy bills, they are now being told to put up with an even bigger real terms pay cut. Meanwhile, the UK is home to record number of billionaires.
"People join the fire service because they want to help people and serve their community. We have been pushed to the point of balloting by a government that is refusing to listen. "
The vote on industrial action comes as research by the FBU and UCLan shows that firefighters with 15 years of service are 1.7 times more likely to develop cancer than those who have served less time.
Billy Holland is the FBU regional secretary for the West Midlands.
He said: "Strike action is a last resort for us. We still believe strikes can be avoided if our member's concerns are addressed around pay.
"We’ve got firefighters risking their lives everyday and struggling to pay their bills. In some case, they’re even using foodbanks. We’re asking the government to fund a pay rise which not only reflects today’s cost of living, but also the contribution we make to society."
He ended: "Lets use the governments own language, and say the pay needs levelling up."
In an effort to avoid strike action, Fire Brigades Union is giving the government 10 days to come forward with a decent offer.
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