Extra caution urged during fire strikes

Firefighters in the Chad area are appealing for members of the public to be extra vigilant during a planned walkout this weekend over a long-running pension row.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) will strike for five hours from 12pm on Friday, between 2pm and 2am on Saturday and between 10am and 3pm on Sunday.

Sean McCallum, chairman of the Nottinghamshire FBU, said with the majority of firefighters in Mansfield and Ashfield being FBU members, people should pay extra attention, especially when driving, during the action.

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The government plans to increase the current retirement age from 55 to 60, but firefighters fear many would lose their jobs if they failed a fitness test at that age.

He said: “This is completely unacceptable and firefighters deserve better.

“This is a fight about maintaining what is theirs.”

As well as five more years in service firefighters are protesting against plans to increase pension contributions, which are currently among the highest in the public sector.

Mr McCallum added: “We have not been on strike for some months and there will be negotiations at Westminster but we are three years down the line and there is no offer on the table.”

A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said contingency fire crews would be placed at strategic points across the county and mobilised from there.