Scottish firefighters have voted that pension proposals from the Scottish Government are sufficient to prevent a strike at the current time, the Fire Brigades Union has announced.
However, strike action in England and Wales remains a strong possibility after the union said it had received no such proposals from ministers in Westminster or Cardiff.
In a statement to members, the union’s executive council said: “By majority vote Scottish members have decided that the Scottish Government’s proposal is sufficient to avoid strike action at this time.
“Scottish members have made it very clear during the briefing meetings that the proposals do not satisfy all parts of the trade dispute.
“However Scottish members have recognised that significant improvements have been made so far on the issue of fitness capability and the threat of “no job, no pension;” the improved protection arrangements and the improved actuarial reductions for retirements from age 55.”
A ‘consultative ballot’ of FBU members in Scotland began on 27 September after the union’s executive council decided the Scottish Government’s offer represented an improvement to the “unacceptable” proposals set out for firefighters in England and Wales.
During the consultation the union held briefing meetings across all areas of Scotland, and the union has reported “universal opposition” to any further increases in contribution rates and asked for the campaign to continue on “key unresolved issues.”
The union said that members’ had also recognised that the Scottish Government would “match” any additional improvements made in agreements elsewhere in the UK.
