Oldham firefighters to join national walk-out

OLDHAM firefighters will join colleagues across England and Wales in a strike over pension rights.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) will walk out for five hours from 6.30pm on Saturday.

The FBU claims changes to pensions and the retirement age will see thousands of firefighters lose their job “simply for getting older”. It also maintains that firemen and women pay some of the highest pension contributions in the UK.

Dave German, an FBU representative based at Chadderton fire station, said: “This is a national issue. All we want are meaningful talks and a negotiated settlement. We’re going on strike with a heavy heart because we don’t want to put the public at risk. We hope people stay as safe as they can during the action.

Greater Manchester has over 100 firefighters in the Oldham area at Chadderton, Hollinwood and Oldham. Saddleworth is served by crews from Oldham, Tameside and Mossley, which is a station manned only through the day.