Firefighters Join Public Sector Staff in One-Day Strike Over Pay

Firefighters in England and Wales will join "millions" of other public sector workers taking strike action in a row over pay.

The strike, which will see Unite, Unison, NUT, PCS, and GMB public sector members walk-out for a day, is planned for 10 July.

The trade union members are taking industrial action in a row over pay and other issues with the government.

"The fact that this government has united so many workers to take strike action against them is a testament to the failure of their policies," said Matt Wrack, general secretary of the FBU.

"They are destroying our public services and wrecking the lives of millions."

"If they won't listen and won't negotiate then this is the result — and they should face more of the same if necessary."

The news comes after members of Unite, one of the country's largest union, voted in favour of the one-day walk-out on 10 July.

Unite is seeking a £1 ($1.7, €1.2)-an-hour increase in pay for the local council workforce which has 400,000 employees earning below £15,000 a year and a million earning less than £21,000.

The trade union has around 70,000 members in local government carrying out such jobs as refuse collection, street cleaning, maintenance of council property, traffic enforcement, school support and care services, and grave digging.

The Local Government Association, which represents councils in England and Wales, said it was disappointing that Union members had decided to strike.

"Local government staff have worked wonders while councils have been tackling the biggest funding cuts in living memory and we have no doubt that many will still be at work on the day of strike action," a LGA spokesperson said.

"The pay offer we have made would increase the pay of most employees by one per cent while the lowest paid would receive an increase of more than four per cent. This is the fairest possible deal for our employees given the limits of what we can afford.

"This strike will not change the pay offer we have made, but it will mean those who take part lose a day's pay."