Essex FBU to strike again

FBU leader Matt Wrack marching in Essex (Pic: Kelvin Williams)

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Firefighters in Essex struck for four hours on Thursday of last week as part of their continuing battle against job cuts.

The FBU members had planned to strike for two three-hour periods on the day, but switched to the four-hour strike after bosses threatened a lockout.

Managers agreed that firefighters could walk out for four hours and only lose four hours’ pay, instead of the full day’s pay they had threatened. A strike by retained firefighters was also called off.

However industrial action that saw firefighters answer only emergency calls went ahead on the day of the Olympics opening ceremony last Friday.

The union had called a programme of action after its 24-hour strike last month. But it called off parts of it after receiving “operationally sensitive” information about the Olympic mountain bike event in Essex.

The next strike is set for 9pm to midnight on Saturday 11 August. Further walkouts are planned on 5 September and 18 October.