Trade unions

FBU reacts to Chancellor John Healey’s Labour Conference speech

28 Sep, 2026 By Alanna Gow

Steve Wright, FBU general secretary said: “It is positive that the Chancellor is directly centring trade unions as partners in Labour’s ambition to transform the country. “For Labour to win the next general election it needs to make changes that people feel in their everyday lives. “That ambition...

Members with a Trades Union Blues banner at an FBU meeting

Never walk alone

FBU members in Manchester met with the Trade Union Blues, a group of football fans taking on profiteering club owners and organising as trade unionists. Steve Morgan reports You’ll never walk alone may be the preferred terrace anthem at Anfield. But as Manchester’s football-loving firefighters – be...

A float covered in posters in French at a strike rally

Nationwide anti-austerity strikes in France

French unions, including public sector unions representing firefighters, have organised nationwide strikes against government austerity this autumn: demanding a tax on the super-rich to fund services. Up to one million demonstrators took part in a strike across France on 18 September. And protesters...

Firefighter Oct/ Nov 2025

03 Nov, 2025

The cover image of Firefighter Oct / nov issue, with a photo of a misty landscape with multiple fire engines

The cover story of this issue of Firefighter looks at what happens when multiple major wildfire incidents break out at the same time, in opposite ends of the country, at a time when resources have been stretched thinner than ever... This issue also includes a reprint of an article originally...

Firefighter magazine

Steve Wright speaks from TUC congress podium

Watering down workers rights bill would be a "disaster" for government, says trade union leader

27 Oct, 2025 By Alice Dann

The Fire Brigades Union is calling for the government to stand firm and deliver the Employment Rights Bill in full, following reports of talks with businesses seeking to water down new workers rights. The union says any watering down of the bill would be a "betrayal" of Labour's popular manifesto...

Head Office relocation

23 Sep, 2025

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Dear member, I am writing to inform you that from the 23rd September the Fire Brigades Union head office will be moving to a new address: Fire Brigades Union Ken Cameron House 171-173 Gray’s Inn Road...

FBU young members gather around a banner with illustrations from discussions around the fire service

Young workers organise!

Firefighter catches up with FBU activists at the union’s first Young Members’ School this summer Recep (Aj) HAWKINS Avon   Age 21   I joined Avon Fire and Rescue Service in December 2021 and did 14 months on call before applying to go wholetime - that’s when I met FBU reps. Since then I’ve been to a...

Firefighter June July 2025

10 Jul, 2025

Firefighter commemorates Jennie Logan and Martyn Sadler, two firefighters who tragically lost their lives at a fire in Bicester on May 15 this year. Features in this issue include an update from FBU's annual conference in Blackpool, and a look at firefighting on the frontline in the town, which has...

Firefighter magazine

FBU Conference 2025- Record of Decisions

07 Jul, 2025

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Dear Brother/Sister, FBU Conference 2025 – Record of Decisions Please find attached the report of the Record of Decisions for Conference 2025. This is also available on the FBU website: https://www...

Paula Dunne of Strike Map with a megaphone at the bin strike picket line

Shut it down!

Birmingham bin workers’ fight against pay cuts has seen them take on the city council – and the government – in one of the most significant strikes of recent years, writes Paula Dunne of Strike Map Climbing into the minibus at quarter to five in the morning, nine of us travelled to Birmingham as...