FIREFIGHTERS are set to strike again over pensions in England and Wales on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Firefighters campaigning against government attacks on their pensions will strike in England and Wales on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, the Fire Brigades Union has announced.

Strikes will take place between 7pm and midnight on Tuesday, December 24, 6.30pm on Tuesday, December 31 and 12.30am on Wednesday, January 1.

Another strike will also take place between 6.30am and 8.30am on Friday, January 3.

As with previous strikes, on the three dates all FBU members in England and Wales will stop work apart from those working in control centres.

And between 7pm on Friday, December 27 and 7pm on Sunday December 29, all firefighters in England, Scotland and Wales except those working in control will refuse to work voluntary overtime.

The ban on voluntary overtime comes after a second ballot of FBU members voted by almost nine to one for additional industrial action on top of strikes.

Fire Brigade Union general secretary, Matt Wrack, said: “Firefighters provide a first-class standard of service 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, and these strikes will remind the Government just how reliant they are on our members’ professionalism, commitment and flexibility.

“However, there should be no need for industrial action, and it’s absurd that firefighters’ concerns over pensions have not been addressed already.

“By simply conceding common sense and allowing firefighters a fair deal, the government could end this industrial action today.”