STRIKE action by firefighters has been postponed following an increased pay offer from Fire and Rescue Service employers.
At talks on Wednesday, bosses put forward a revised offer. It includes a seven per cent rise which is backdated to July last year and another five per cent from this July.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) will now ballot members on the deal after more than 80% of members voted in December to back strike action.
If industrial action had gone ahead, it would have been the first UK-wide fire strikes over pay since 2003.
READ MORE: How will UK anti-strike law impact Scottish workers and devolution?
The union has said it will have an “honest and sober” discussion of the offer, which it says still amounts to a real terms pay cut given the rate of inflation.
FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: “This offer is testament to the power of collective action through the FBU. Last year we were offered an insulting two per cent. The employers have now revised their position.
“We have achieved this increase because of the massive vote in favour of strike action by firefighters and control staff across the country, which made clear the strength of feeling among firefighters about cuts to their wages.”
Wrack added that the average firefighter has lost 12 per cent of the value of their pay since 2010.
He continued: “Frontline firefighters and control room staff will make the decision on whether this pay offer is considered a real improvement.
“Our internal discussions will be honest and sober. While the offer is improved from last year, it still amounts to a real terms pay cut.
“Meanwhile, plans to announce a series of strike dates and industrial action will be postponed, pending the outcome of the ballot.”
He added that “the mandate for strike action by firefighters remains”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here