Reacting to the news that London Assembly members have rejected plans by Boris Johnson to lock out striking firefighters for entire shifts, Paul Embery, secretary for the FBU in London, said: “We are pleased that the London fire authority voted to reject the proposals to lock striking firefighters out of their stations.
“It would have been a highly regressive step and poisoned industrial relations. We think the Mayor of London should respect the decision of his fire authority and not do anything to inflame the situation further.
“A lockout in London would have thrown a hand grenade into the national dispute on pensions at a time when negotiations are at a delicate stage.
“Instead of provoking London firefighters, the Mayor should use his influence to help bring this dispute to an end.”
