North East firefighters to take action at Westminster over pay
Members of the FBU are voting to take industrial action over a 5-percent pay rise
Around 45 firefighters from the North East are demonstrating at Westminster this morning.
They will stage a huge rally to mark the start of a ballot for strikes in a dispute over pay.
Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) will travel to Westminster on December 6 for a demonstration and lobby of MPs.
Firefighters and control staff have rejected a 5% pay offer and will start voting on industrial action on December 5, with the result due in the new year.
The FBU said next week's rally is aimed at persuading MPs to fund the fire and rescue service to support fair pay for firefighters and control staff and to end cuts to the service.
Hundreds of firefighters and control staff will gather outside Parliament before lobbying their MPs.
Staff from Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Darlington and Cleveland Fire and Rescue Services are all involved.
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