Firefighters strike again this weekend

Union members will once again withdraw their services between 6pm and 10pm tonight (Friday) and tomorrow.
Emergency crews who received crash courses by the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) in September will be called in to provide cover once again.
These will be the fifth and sixth strikes since September as the union tries to negotiate with the Government over changes to their pension scheme, which they claim are unreasonable.
The industrial action comes as people gear-up for Christmas, with an added risk of fire as many people put up Christmas lights and then head out shopping or attending parties.
Chief fire officer for the RBFRS, Andy Fry, said: "At this time of year we are all preparing for Christmas and are out and about shopping or celebrating with friends and family so, once again, we are asking everyone to ‘Take Extra Care’ during this next period of strike action.
"As before, we will still be answering and responding to 999 calls, although we will be prioritising ‘life critical’ incidents, such as house fires and road traffic collisions where people are trapped."
The news was announced the day after the union announced that 86 per cent of its members had voted in favour of further industrial action in its recent ballot, which gives the union authority to stage other forms of industrial action in addition to strikes.
It has not yet been confirmed what form this further action will be taken, but it could include a ban on overtime for a specified period.
Green Watch and brigade organiser at Newbury Fire Station, Robin Whitman, said: “Talks don’t seem to be getting us anywhere at the moment.
“It doesn’t take a genius to work out some of the things we are expected to do, 60 is really pushing the limit of it.
“Rest assured the brigade do put in contingency plans.
“This is not about us putting the public in danger - this is about our pensions.
“We want to help the public, it’s what we do as firefighters, however things like the pension, that’s there for when we need help.”