Fire crews are to stage a four hour strike today (Wednesday) in a row over pensions.
Military firefighters have been drafted in to cover the strike, taking place between 12pm and 4pm, and six crews have been stationed at Abertillery, Newport, Bridgend, Pontypridd and two within the Cardiff area.
Unions are angry at plans to make firefighters work until they are 60.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service is urging people to take extra care during the strike period.
Rod Hammerton, Assistant Chief Fire Officer with South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said as well as the six military crews, there will also be a single crew of auxiliary firefighters on duty.
He said: “We will continue to deliver against our statutory obligations to the best of our ability with the very limited resources that are at our disposal and will prioritise deployment of the available resources with a focus on the protection of life.
“As a consequence of these challenges, we are urging the public to ‘take extra care’ in terms of fire safety in the home and road safety during the period of strike action planned by firefighters.
“South Wales Fire and Rescue Service will be receiving external assistance from the military. However this assistance will be limited to six crews of fully trained firefighters and as such our ability to provide a service to the public will still be challenging.”
Under plans by the UK Government, firefighters in England will get their full pension at 60. Changes to pensions in Wales have not yet been finalised. Those retiring early, the FBU argue, would lose thousands of pounds.
Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union General Secretary, said: “This initial strike is a warning shot to government. Firefighters could not be more serious about protecting public safety and ensuring fair pensions. Governments in Westminster and Cardiff have simply refused to see sense on these issues.
“It is ludicrous to expect firefighters to fight fires and rescue families in their late-50s. The lives of the general public and firefighters themselves will be endangered.
“None of us want a strike, but we cannot compromise on public and firefighter safety.”
UK Government Fire Minister Brandon Lewis said: “The Government has listened to union concerns. Firefighters will still get one of the most generous pension schemes in the public sector.
“A firefighter who earns £29,000, and retires after a full career aged 60, will get a £19,000 a year pension, rising to £26,000 with the state pension. An equivalent private sector pension pot would be worth over half a million pounds and require firefighters to contribute twice as much.
“The firefighter pension age of 60 was introduced in 2006 and is in line with the police and armed forces. We have been clear with the Fire Brigades Union our pension reforms are not introducing a national fitness standard. Firefighter fitness remains a local fire and rescue authority matter – the Government is helping local employers and the union to work together on this issue.”
Brandon Lewis, reportedly the UK Government's 'Fire Minister' (though I cannot find him nor his ministry in the House of Commons list of cabinet members)says,
“The firefighter pension age of 60 was introduced in 2006 and is in line with the police and armed forces."
Does this mean that 'Dad's Army' is still with us 68 years after the end of World War II and that courageous, fit, 59 year olds soldier for the Crown in Afghanistan? Or is Mr. Lewis talking a load of tosh?
The Game is on then?
Who next?.
I feel put out. I pay my taxes and are told that certain services will be provided. During a strike these services will not continue fully. I don''t think public sector workers should have the right to strike. They can protest yes but by striking, no.
What would happen if my car suddenly exploded in a tunnel creating a huge fireball and trapping people inside. All those innocent people would die as no help would arrive as the rescuers are striking over an increased pension age.
Light the fuse and off we go!!!!!!
Is`nt there some private fire service you can contribute towards Dean?????
This would surly remove any stress and anxiety the industrial action by a section of our public services may cause you.
What would you do Trefor if it was your car in the situation I gave?
Fire doesn't wait for them to stop striking…
Dean- Headlines Whilst Strike was on-
"Two injured in crash on Chepstow Road, Newport – soldiers on scene in fire engine"
I am sure anything more serious, and if called upon by their Senior Officers and the army, striking Firefighters would leave the picket lines and respond.