The Fire Brigades Union has asked to meet the fire minister in Westminster this weekend over proposed changes to firefighter pensions.
Firefighters across England and Wales are due to start eight consecutive days of strike action on Monday.
Brandon Lewis wrote to the union on 9 and 10 July to make revisions to the government’s proposals and asked the union to call off the strikes.
The minister’s amendments follow a legal challenge from the FBU over what the union says was age discrimination within the government’s proposals.
However, in a reply from FBU general secretary Matt Wrack, says the revisions do not address issues raised in the legal challenge fully, nor the prospect of firefighters facing the threat of being left with ‘no job and no pension’ as a result of the government’s attacks.
In his letter, Wrack writes: “We are keen to meet to try to resolve these issues. I suggest that this is done immediately.
“I will therefore make myself and our team available this weekend (12 and 13 July) to try to talk through these serious issues. I hope you will take up this offer.”
You can view the letters under 'Related resources' on this page.
