Strike looms as UK firefighters reject offer

Hopes of averting a strike by firefighters in Britain faded tonight after union leaders said they had been made an “unacceptable” pay offer.

Local authority employers finalised a new pay offer today, which they put to officials of the Fire Brigades Union.

It had been expected that the proposed deal would be worth around 16% and would boost the pay of firefighters.

But the Fire Brigades Union said tonight it had only been offered a rise of 4%, with any extra increase linked to modernisation of the fire service.

One official said the two sides were as far apart as ever and a planned eight-day strike, due to start at 9am tomorrow, remained very much on.