MORE than 1,000 North East firefighters and officers will be asked to back an all-out strike if they reject pension changes announced by the Government, The Journal can reveal.

Crews at dozens of stations across the region from Northumberland to Cleveland are in the middle of a three-week consultation on the proposed deal which was presented to the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) at key talks earlier this month.

The Government claims the proposals are a fair, affordable, and generous package but senior North East union leaders warn it will force firefighters to leave the pension schemes because of crippling costs.

The ruling national executive of the union will meet in early March and it is almost certain they will sanction a national strike ballot if there is no improved offer on the table.

North East firefighter Andy Noble is on the FBU national executive. He said: “Firefighters across the North East feel betrayed by the coalition Government’s proposals to amend their pension entitlement.

“In simple terms, like many other employees in the public sector, they’re being asked to pay more, work longer and receive less.

“Despite the fact they already pay as much as 11% (of their wages) in pension contributions, they’re being told they’ll have to pay as much as an additional 3.2% over the next three years.”