Bonfire Night strike ‘reckless’

Firefighters at the scene of a fire in Peckham, south-east LondonThe first strike went ahead on Saturday

Firefighters in London are to strike on Bonfire Night in a row over new contracts, their union has said.

The 47-hour action is the third strike date announced since the Fire Brigades’ Union (FBU) said 79% of its members voted in favour of industrial action.

They say the dispute centres on plans to scrap current rotas and force staff to sign new contracts or face the sack.

London Fire Brigade said changes were needed so the public would remain protected while budgets were squeezed.

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Crews staged an eight-hour strike on Saturday and another is planned for Monday 1 November.

The FBU said thousands of its members will walk out from 1000 GMT on 5 November until 0900 GMT on 7 November.

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said they had been left with no choice.

“The alternative is to allow London’s firefighters to become doormats for their employers to walk on,” he said.

“The long-term safety of Londoners depends on a well-trained, self-confident firefighting force. The chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Brian Coleman, issues calculated insults and says he’s relaxed and sacking all of them.

“He and the Commissioner, Ron Dobson, want to run the London Fire Brigade as though it were a Victorian mill. They want a frightened and obedient firefighting force. We simply cannot accept that.”

Urging the authority to meet representatives and come up with a solution he said: “There’s still nearly two weeks for the London Fire Brigade to get this right.”

Speaking during the strike at the weekend, Mr Coleman said: “This action is based on suggested cuts, but there are no cuts.”

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

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