Vow to fight on after Midland fire crews strike
Firefighters have vowed to 'fight to the end' after last night's nationwide strike over pensions – with more action planned.
Fire crews across the West Midlands and Staffordshire took the action from 6.30pm until 11pm yesterday.
Crews in the West Midlands were called to 11 incidents during the strike – none of which was considered major.
They included a rubbish fire at the side of a building in Oldbury, a fire caused by unattended food cooking in Wednesfield, and a false alarm in an apartment block in Dudley.
while crews in Staffordshire attended two. Bosses said the walkout had 'fortunately' passed without major incident.
Under government proposals the retirement age for firefighters will rise from 55 to 60, but the Fire Brigades Union fears workers face being made redundant if they fail fitness tests.
Mother-of-two Leanne Buirne, aged 31, joined the service 11 years ago and was on a picket line outside Perry Barr fire station. She said: "Expecting large numbers of firefighters in their late 50s to fight fires and rescue families is not just ridiculous, it is dangerous to the public and to firefighters."
Another walk-out is planned from 6am to 8am on Monday. Steve Hunt-Price, chairman of the union, added: "We are a united union and we will fight this to the end."
