FIREFIGHTERS will strike for eight consecutive days in a sharp escalation of its pensions dispute with the Government.

The Fire Brigade Union (FBU) announced today (July 4) its members will strike for four hours a day from Monday, July 14 to Monday, July 21 - after branding proposals to change pension arrangements as unacceptable and a “vicious attack” on firefighters.

The union is opposed to changes which would see a later retirement age and firefighters having to pay more into their pensions.

The action follows a series of one day strikes taken by the union. Its members will also walk out for the fifteenth time on Thursday, July 10, from 10am to 7pm as part of wider action being taken by thousands of public sector workers.

Under the Government's proposals, firefighters forced to retire before the age of 60 will have half their pension taken away, according to the FBU. It claims this is a cynical move by a Government aware many firefighters are forced into early retirement due to the physical demands of their job.

Matt Wrack, the union's general secretary, said: “The Government must realise that firefighters cannot accept proposals that would have such devastating consequences for their futures, their families’ futures and the future of the fire and rescue service itself.

“Shorter strike periods have illustrated the strength of feeling amongst firefighters whilst limiting disruption to the fire service, the public and our members’ working lives.

“But the Government is merely ploughing ahead, forcing firefighters to react.”

The North-East’s fire services are urging members of the public to take extra care during the strike periods, although in an emergency they should still ring 999.

Cleveland Fire Brigade and North Yorkshire Fire Service both said contingency plans using auxiliary firefighters working alongside the full-time staff would be put in place.

Ian Hayton, Chief Fire Officer for Cleveland Fire Brigade, said: “The safety of the Cleveland community is, and always will be our number one priority, we will provide a professional emergency response throughout the disruption.”

Chief Fire Officer Tom Capeling from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said: “Attendance at incidents will be prioritised according to the risk to life and property.

“More than 60 per cent of fires we attend start in the kitchen, and these periods of strike action occur over breakfast and evening meal times, so we would like people to take extra care when cooking.”

Fire Minister Brandon Lewis said: “The deal being offered gives firefighters one of the most generous pensions in the whole public sector and yet the Fire Brigades Union keeps disrupting a taxpayer funded service with more unnecessary industrial action.”

The union will be on strike from 6am to 8am and 5pm to 7pm from Monday, July 14, to Thursday, July 17, and on Monday, July 21, 6am to 8am and 11pm to 1am on Friday, July 18, 11am to 1pm and 11pm to 1am on Saturday, July 19, and 5pm to 7pm on Sunday, July 20.