UK Firefighter Dispute 2002–2003

UK Firefighter Dispute 2002–2003

The 2002-2003 UK firefighter dispute began when the UK firefighters union, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), voted to take strike action in an attempt to secure a better salary. The FBU demanded a 39 percent increase in pay, which would have brought the average firefighter's wage (at the time) to around £30,000. It balloted its members for a strike in late 2002 and the industrial action began in November. It was the first nationwide firefighters' strike in the UK since the 1970s.

The strike came as part of a wave of industrial action in Britain, which began with the council workers' strike in July of the same year, and continued with other events. For example, 95% of the UK's postal workers voted for industrial action.