Firefighters walk out in the first national strike for 25 years

Firefighters in Birmingham and across the country have begun a 48-hour strike over pay, the first national fire strike for 25 years.

The walkout began at 6pm on 13 November, after last-minute talks between the Fire Brigades Union, employers and the government broke down. Army crews are providing emergency cover using the ageing Green Goddess fire engines.

The dispute

The Fire Brigades Union is seeking a pay rise of around 40 per cent, which would take a qualified firefighter's pay to about £30,000 a year. The union says firefighters are underpaid for the risks they take and the skills they need.

The employers and the government say the claim is unaffordable and would have knock-on effects across the public sector. They have offered a smaller increase, linked to changes in working practices, which the union has rejected.

An independent review of the fire service, led by Sir George Bain, has recommended a smaller pay rise tied to modernisation, but the union says its findings do not go far enough.

Emergency cover

Thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen have been trained to provide emergency cover during the strike. They are using Green Goddess fire engines, which date from the 1950s and have been kept in reserve for emergencies.

The military crews have less equipment and less specialist training than professional firefighters, and there are fears that response times will be slower. Specialist rescue teams from the military are on standby for serious incidents.

The public has been urged to take extra care during the strike, particularly with cooking and heating, and to make sure smoke alarms are working.

On the picket lines

Striking firefighters have set up picket lines outside fire stations across Birmingham. Many have received support from the public, with passers-by stopping to offer food and drinks and drivers sounding their horns in support.

The union has said its members will respond to major emergencies where lives are at risk, although the details of these arrangements vary from area to area.

More strikes planned

The union has announced further strikes, including an eight-day walkout later this month, if no agreement is reached. Both sides say they want to avoid further action, but there is little sign of a breakthrough.

The government has warned that it is prepared to change the law to impose a settlement if necessary, and has said it will not be forced into a deal it cannot afford.

The last national strike

The last national firefighters' strike took place in 1977 and lasted for nine weeks, over the winter. The armed forces also provided cover then, using the same Green Goddess engines.

That dispute ended with an agreement that linked firefighters' pay to the earnings of skilled workers, a formula that has now broken down.

For the people of Birmingham, the hope is that the dispute can be resolved quickly, and that no lives are lost while the firefighters are on strike.