The FBU has received a message of solidarity from several trade unions and the TUC.
Mark Serwotka, general secretary of PCS, said: “Despite the FBU engaging in weeks of negotiation and presenting a barrage of unarguable evidence, the government has provoked these strikes by ignoring reason and imposing their damaging plans.
“Firefighters should know they have the full solidarity of PCS in their strike action, in defence of their future and that of the fire and rescue service.”
Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the TUC, said:
“Government inaction is at the heart of the Fire and Rescue Service dispute today.
“Firefighters have genuine concerns about the impact of increasing the normal retirement age to 60. The government’s own research showed that this was a legitimate concern and their failure to respond to the Williams Report demonstrates a lack of will to resolve the issues it raises.
“If the government was genuine about wanting to end this dispute they would be talking to firefighters about these concerns, not ignoring them.”
Sall Hunt, general secretary of UCU, said: “FBU members defending their pensions and the pensions of future firefighters have the full support of UCU.
“We need to be protected by firefighters who can still do their jobs and who are properly rewarded when the time comes for them to retire. We hope your action brings the government back to the table.”
Dean Rogers, assistant general secretary of Napo, said: “On behalf of Napo, the union and professional body for the probation and family court services I send our sincere best wishes and support for your action.
“Across the nation public servants and those we serve continue to pay a high price for continuing austerity measures imposed by the Coalition.
“These are cloaked in arguments about the “need to save money” but the professional or human costs fail to appear on any Treasury spreadsheet.
“These real costs are increasingly evident and obvious to those working in public service and to the public whom we serve. In our own Justice Sector we’re seeing increased suicides in prisons; court cases collapsing because the state can’t guarantee a fair trial; and huge risks to public safety emerging from the split and part-privatisation of the probation service.
“You can be sure that in this context public servants understand we are “all in this together.
“The pension proposals that you’re fighting are dreadful.
“There could surely have been no cruder illustration of the callous risks involved than the Chancellor of the Exchequer announcing budget tax breaks for families of public servants who die in the line of duty – no doubt having firefighters working to 65 in mind.
“Meanwhile, his school friends and drinking palls were creaming millions off the taxpayer from their Great Royal Mail Robbery.
“Napo recently held only its fifth strike in over a century and we understand how hard it is for public servants to take strike action but when a bully threatens someone they perceive to be weaker than them, it’s important to stand up to them.
“When workers stand together bullies can be defeated. In defeat the bully thinks longer and harder about picking on the same group again and others can take strength from their defeat.
“Your fight is our fight and we stand with you.”
