FIREFIGHTERS in West Yorkshire will stage another 24-hour stoppage from tomorrow morning in the national dispute over a pension scheme their union describes as “unworkable”.

The strike starts from 7am and is the first to take place during 2015, though there have been 48 previous strike periods in the 18 months the dispute has been running.

It is being staged in protest at government plans to introduce a pension scheme that would see firefighters work a longer career, leading to fears over their ability to maintain fitness levels.

The Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack said: “Government ministers have ignored three written requests in the last few weeks by the union to meet to try to resolve this dispute.

“Government ministers are quick to call this union ‘militant’ and yet it’s them who still refuse to talk to us when we remain ready to negotiate at any time.”

In West Yorkshire, contingency measures have been put in place using non-striking fire service staff and Community Response Operatives who have been recruited specifically to provide cover.

During previous strikes, there have been around half the normal number of fire trucks available and fire chiefs have asked residents to be especially careful during the dispute, both on the roads, in the home and to take special care if smoking.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Dave Walton said: “It is extremely disappointing that we once again find ourselves planning for yet another period of strike action by our firefighters.

“There appears to be no end in sight to this ongoing and damaging dispute – each time a strike occurs the public are once again placed at risk.”