Firefighters in Huddersfield will join colleagues across England and Wales to stage a fresh strike in their bitter row with the government over pensions.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) will walk out for five hours from 6.30pm on Saturday, October 19 following a stoppage last month.

Around 20 Huddersfield firefighters joined more than 200 crew members across West Yorkshire on September 25 to stage walk-outs.

Union officials said firefighters from Elland, Brighouse, Dewsbury and Batley also took part in the four-hour strike – the first in a decade.

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: "We had hoped our first strike was enough to show government that firefighters could not be more serious about protecting public safety and ensuring fair pensions.

"No firefighter wants to strike, and it’s desperately disappointing that governments in Westminster and Cardiff continue to deny reality over pensions costs and the need for a pension scheme that reflects the job firefighters do.

"Firefighters simply cannot be expected to fight fires and rescue families in their late 50s and into their 60s."

The union argue that changes to pensions and the retirement age will see thousands of firefighters lose their job "simply for getting older". 

The move could also see firefighters having to work on frontline duties until they are 60, pay more into their pensions and receive less in retirement, the union argue.

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Mr Wrack added: “We hope this second strike will mean both governments will be willing to discuss the full range of concerns that firefighters and the general public have expressed.

“More strikes cannot be ruled out if that’s what it takes to protect public and firefighter safety from these ludicrous attacks.”

In Huddersfield, 20 firefighters – many of whom were on duty the previous day or on rest days – joined a picket line outside the town's fire station last month.

The industrial action was repeated across the country and came after two years of negotiations over proposed pension changes failed to reach agreement.

West Yorkshire Fire Bridges Union brigade chair, John Durkin, said: "Since the first strike, our position hasn't changed.

"Fire minister Brandon Lewis has suggested that some of the issues we are raising are local issues, but we disagree - this is a national problem.

"I would hope that they have taken note of the last strike, but it would appear they haven't.

Dewsbury Fire Station crews supporting last month's four hour strike
Dewsbury Fire Station crews supporting last month's four hour strike

"We feel we need to make another display of our disagreement to make them come back to the negotiating table.

"Our team have made themselves available at any time to start negotiating and have even offered to facilitate those negotiations.

"We will meet them any time they want - we are still willing to enter into negotiations to try and reach a settlement, but it would appear central government are refusing to talk.

"If they were to come to us, with a meaningful offer to make, we would take that into consideration."

During last month's strike, the West Yorkshire brigade dealt with a dozen 999 calls, which were handled by managers and non-FBU members.

Bosses were forced to implement contingency plans, recruiting community volunteers and training them to provide emergency cover for the region.

A statement from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was "committed to protecting public safety at all times" and that contingency measures would once again be put in place to deal with union action.

Chief fire officer Simon Pilling said: "We remain confident in our contingency plans after they were tested, and proved to be successful, during the last period of strike action in September.

"A reduced emergency response will again be inevitable during this next strike action, however, we do our very best to provide effective services throughout.”

Fire minister Brandon Lewis branded next week's strike "unconstructive and unnecessary."

"The FBU themselves have said that this dispute can only be resolved through dialogue, discussion and negotiation," he added.

"The FBU agreed not to strike in Scotland based on principles almost entirely the same as our offer, so their decision for further industrial action in England makes no sense.

"The firefighters’ pension scheme is one of the most generous pension schemes in the public sector.

"The firefighter pension age of 60 was introduced in 2006 and matches the police and armed forces. Any early ill-health retirements will see an unreduced pension.

"Firefighter fitness is decided by local fire and rescue authorities so the union needs to work with them to resolve that issue."

Huddersfield Fire Station crews support four hour strike