While you’re stocking-up on fireworks, sparklers and wood for the bonfire, you may want to remember that the fire service are set to strike tonight.
Members of the Fire Brigade Union (FBU) are set to walk out from 6:30pm to 11pm tonight and then again on Monday November 4, the day before bonfire night.
The strikes will occur after three years of failed negotiations between the FBU and the government over pay and pensions.
Firemen are objecting to the proposed increase in pension age from 55 to 60.
MM took to the streets of Piccadilly to find out what the public made of the proposed strikes.
Do you support fire fighters’ strike ahead of Bonfire Night?
| Options | Results |
| No | 78% |
| Yes | 22% |
Benjamin Thompson, 21, a student from Knutsford, said: “I can understand their argument but they should be going about it in a different way – they’re putting children’s lives at risk.”
Craig Washington, 19, a newspaper distributor living in Newton Heath, said: “Too many people will suffer, especially young children. But it could even put old people at risk; they could have a house fire unrelated to bonfire night and need help.”
Margaret Gibson, 60, a retired butcher from the Lake District, said: “My ex-husband was a fireman and he retired at 50. The fire service pension is the best you can get he’s never had to work again. They don’t need more money.”
Many people, like Omar Kisinishvili, 45, from Gorton, believe that the fire service is being ‘genuinely selfish’.
Chris Billing, 25, a student from Fallowfield, said: “It’s about morality: they knew the nature of the job they took on and so they should look after people.”
However, others, such as Gareth Kitching, 43, self employed, from Teeside, said: “They have the same rights as everyone else. It’s a job somebody shouldn’t be forced to do at 60.”
“By striking people would realise the importance of them and the job they do. Many go into the fire service as strong healthy men but if a 60 year old goes into a burning building there’s more of a danger to his health” said Dee Simmons, 60, a market researcher from Cheadle.
Christine Talebzadeh, 45, a Spar worker from Radcliffe, said: “The strikes are right because they’re not given what they want and if it’s the only way for them to be heard then they should do it.”
Tracey Taylor, 45, a businesswoman from Swinton, said: “There are still a lot of firemen working and we should be reasonable, we should all know the dangers of fire and be able to look after ourselves.”
Picture courtesy of Mark Bridge, with thanks.
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