The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in Merseyside has threatened to ballot for strikes against plans by the local authority to make £3 million cuts, axe 120 jobs and reduce night cover in Liverpool.
Merseyside is just one of many fire authorities across the country that wants to push through a neo-liberal “modernisation” of the fire service in the face of opposition from firefighters and community activists.
FBU members in Teesside started a ballot for strike action against cuts last week. Similar disputes are brewing in North Yorkshire and South Yorkshire.
Meanwhile FBU negotiators in Hertfordshire have been consulting branches over an employer offer in their dispute over cuts and closures. An announcement was expected from the FBU on Wednesday of this week.
Herts FBU members have struck three times against plans by Herts fire authority to shut two part-time stations and axe up to 50 frontline posts.
The latest offer scales back some of the cuts and saves some jobs, but the two threatened stations in Radlett and Bovingdon stay closed.
List of Palestinians released so far
Plus Top docs should reject pay offer
Israel has displaced some 1.7 million Gazans
Plus Deliveroo judgment, and anti-racist action in Wigan and Oxford
