Planned strike action that would have affected the local area as firefighters from Avon Fire and Rescue stopped working for the evening has been called off.
Avon Fire & Rescue Service was notified that today’s planned five-hour strike by firefighters in England and Wales had been called off after progress in talks over pensions.
The firefighter’s union said that the decision came after a deal similar to Scotland’s current pension system was negotiated with the government.
The strike was due to take place between 6.30pm and 11.30pm this evening.
Firefighters will now be able to retire on a full pension between the ages of 55 and 60 if they are no longer fit to work and another role in the service cannot be found for them.
Any member of staff who does meet the fitness standards for working but chooses to retire early will receive a reduced pension.
A final agreement still has not been reached as negotiations are yet to take place over how the new plan will be funded.
Firefighters based in Scotland who already have this scheme voted against striking in support of their English and Welsh colleagues.
The FBU had 32,000 union members walk out in the first stage of the strike action last month.
