Firefighters are due to take to the picket lines during a four day national strike in the run up to Bonfire Night.
During one of the busiest times of the year for the service, members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) will walk out in Ellesmere Port and Chester at 6pm this Friday (October 31).
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service are urging members of the public to take extra care during the strike, which ends the evening before Guy Fawkes Night, and will see many firefighters out of action when firework displays and bonfires are scheduled across the county.
Local members of the FBU have walked out multiple times since the first national strike in August over an ongoing dispute with the Government over pension proposals – but this will be their longest period of action over the issue to date.
Cheshire FBU secretary Dave Williams said that the strike was a “last resort” over new plans which will see firefighters work until they are 60 instead of 55, pay more into their pensions and get less in retirement.
Speaking to The Chronicle, Mr Williams said: “The Government have been making the right sort of sounds, they have had us in talks for a number of weeks.
“We thought that was positive and we declined from taking any action during that period.
“At the end of all that they fully refused to move at all despite the evidence that has been put forward.
“This strike is a last resort, this has been going on for a couple of years prior to us having to take action.”
Mr Williams said that the proposals could see firefighters unfairly dismissed if they are not fit enough to work until they are 60 – and that the plans for them to work past the current retirement age could put the public’s safety at risk.
According to the FBU, Northern Ireland has offered firefighters a scheme with a normal pension age of 55 and Scotland has offered more protection and a guarantee not to sack firefighters for losing fitness as they get older.
But Mr Williams said that England had refused to offer any concession to the proposals, and confirmed that the FBU will be meeting today (Wednesday October 29) to finalise plans for the picket lines.
“It is an unnecessary move by the government, everyone breathed a sigh of relief after the last lot of strikes.
He said: “This action is a last resort in the hope we will force the Government back to the table.”
Meanwhile Chief Fire Officer for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service Paul Hancock reassured the public that there would be emergency cover during the strike as the service had plans in place to protect the public during the busy season.
He said: “It is important to highlight that the strikes being proposed relate to national issues rather than local ones and that action will only be taken by those staff that are members of the Fire Brigade’s Union.
“We do have plans and procedures in place that will enable us to continue to protect the communities of Cheshire during strike periods. However, as we do have less fire engines available we would once again encourage everyone to take extra care during the strike.
“It is especially important to be extra vigilant as this strike action falls within the service’s Bonfire period, which is traditionally a very busy time for fire crews. As always, we would urge people to only attend organised bonfire and firework displays. We would also urge groups to consider not holding bonfire and firework displays over the weekend as there will be less fire engines available should there be an issue.”
For more advice on safety precautions to take during the strike which runs from 6pm on Friday, October 31–6pm on Tuesday November 4 visit the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service website.
