Firefighters strike for four days before Bonfire Night.....

Officers are in a dispute with the Government over plans to increase their retirement age and reform pensions

Merseyside firefighters will go on strike for four days leading up to Bonfire Night, union leaders have announced.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) will walk out at 6pm on October 31 and not return to work until the same time on November 4.

The union is furious over Government plans to increase the firefighter retirement age from 55 to 60 and make them pay more in pension contributions.

Announcing the latest wave of action, FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: “Firefighters will not stand by and see our members’ pension rights destroyed by a government which does not give a damn about the safety or wellbeing of firefighters.

“The public do not want 60-year-olds tackling fires. Everyone understands the stupidity of these plans – except Government ministers.

“We remain committed to resolving this dispute in the interests of our members and the public at large.”

There have already been 46 separate stoppages as part of this dispute and the latest walkout was announced following two months of negotiations with Fire Minister Penny Mordaunt.

A Merseyside fire service spokesman added: “The public should be reassured that our staff will maintain a significant emergency response capability during industrial action from October 31 to November 4 and 999 calls will be responded to as normal.

“We will also continue our community fire safety work – recognising the importance of providing fire safety information at such a time.

“As this is over Halloween and leading up to Bonfire Night, we would ask the public to show extra care and vigilance during this period of industrial action.”