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| Firefighters in England walk out in four-day strike over pensions | Firefighters in England walk out in four-day strike over pensions |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Firefighters across England have begun a four-day strike in a row over pensions during one of the service's busiest weekends of the year. | Firefighters across England have begun a four-day strike in a row over pensions during one of the service's busiest weekends of the year. |
| Fire Brigades Union (FBU) members walked out at 18:00 GMT on Friday and are due back on 4 November. | |
| Some fire brigades have warned the public could be left "vulnerable" and small fires may not be attended. | Some fire brigades have warned the public could be left "vulnerable" and small fires may not be attended. |
| Fire Minister Penny Mordaunt said fire and rescue authorities have "robust" plans in place for the weekend. | Fire Minister Penny Mordaunt said fire and rescue authorities have "robust" plans in place for the weekend. |
| Union officials say that under the government's proposals firefighters will have to work until they are 60 instead of 55, pay more into their pensions and get less in retirement. | Union officials say that under the government's proposals firefighters will have to work until they are 60 instead of 55, pay more into their pensions and get less in retirement. |
| The proposals will leave firefighters at risk of dismissal as their fitness declines into their 50s, the FBU said. | The proposals will leave firefighters at risk of dismissal as their fitness declines into their 50s, the FBU said. |
| Public 'vulnerable' | Public 'vulnerable' |
| FBU members went on strike in England and Wales in August over the same dispute. | FBU members went on strike in England and Wales in August over the same dispute. |
| Strike action due to take place in Wales has been averted after a "significant" change of direction by the Welsh government, the FBU said. | Strike action due to take place in Wales has been averted after a "significant" change of direction by the Welsh government, the FBU said. |
| General secretary Matt Wrack accused the Westminster government of "sickening hypocrisy". | General secretary Matt Wrack accused the Westminster government of "sickening hypocrisy". |
| "The real scandal is that their own pensions are by far the most generous anywhere in the public sector," he said. | "The real scandal is that their own pensions are by far the most generous anywhere in the public sector," he said. |
| One firefighter and his son carved pumpkins together and tweeted a photo in support of the strike. | One firefighter and his son carved pumpkins together and tweeted a photo in support of the strike. |
| "It's an issue which affects both me and my family and I have explained the dispute to him," said the firefighter, who asked not to be named. | "It's an issue which affects both me and my family and I have explained the dispute to him," said the firefighter, who asked not to be named. |
| The West Yorkshire brigade said the public would be left in a "vulnerable position" and asked people to take extra care this weekend. | The West Yorkshire brigade said the public would be left in a "vulnerable position" and asked people to take extra care this weekend. |
| The London brigade said it may not attend rubbish or small grass fires or help anyone stuck in a lift. | The London brigade said it may not attend rubbish or small grass fires or help anyone stuck in a lift. |
| 'Unnecessary strike' | 'Unnecessary strike' |
| Industrial action over the past 18 months has seen fire authorities spend millions hiring contractors to cover for striking FBU members. | Industrial action over the past 18 months has seen fire authorities spend millions hiring contractors to cover for striking FBU members. |
| The FBU said it expected about 36,000 firefighters to walk out. | The FBU said it expected about 36,000 firefighters to walk out. |
| The fire minister said: "All fire and rescue authorities have robust and well-tested plans in place that include back-up support if needed. | The fire minister said: "All fire and rescue authorities have robust and well-tested plans in place that include back-up support if needed. |
| "Public safety is the primary focus and if anyone needs emergency assistance, they should dial 999." | "Public safety is the primary focus and if anyone needs emergency assistance, they should dial 999." |
| She said strike action was "unnecessary" after pension regulations laid in parliament on Tuesday mean nearly three quarters of firefighters will see no change in their pension age in 2015. | She said strike action was "unnecessary" after pension regulations laid in parliament on Tuesday mean nearly three quarters of firefighters will see no change in their pension age in 2015. |