Fire Brigades Union calls off Saturday's strike

A second strike called by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) that was due to disrupt services in Plymouth has been called off.

The industrial action had been scheduled for Saturday (19 October) between 6.30pm and 11.30pm, but the Union says this has been postponed due to progress in talks with the Government over pensions.

Further negotiations are due to take place between the FBU and the Government.

The FBU has been in dispute with the Government over pensions and firefighters' retirement age. The Government is proposing to raise the retirement age to 60 and require fighfighters to contribute more to their pensions, but the Union has argued that 60 is too old for front line service where high levels of fitness are required.

A revised Government offer, based upon a similar deal made by the government in Scotland, has been tabled, according to Union sources. This would allow a full pension to be given to those between the ages of 55 and 60 if they are geuninely unfit to continue to work, while those choosing to retire early would receive a reduced sum.

FBU members carried out a four-day strike last month; armed forces remained on stand-by throughout but the action too place without major incident.