Only 42% of Britons think firefighters should be allowed to strike
As firefighters in England and Wales stage a strike over a pensions dispute, a new YouGov poll reveals that the British public tend to oppose allowing firefighters to do so, in contrast to opinions on striking by workers in several other professions.
Overall 49% of Britons oppose allowing firefighters to strike, compared to 42% who support the right.
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Opinion on the issue has changed little since June 2012, when a YouGov poll found opposition to the right to strike for fire-fighters outnumbered support by 48%-45%.
In terms of political persuasion, only Labour voters supported the right of firefighters to strike by a majority, with 61% saying they should have the right compared to only 40% of Lib Dem voters, 34% of UKIP voters and 23% of Conservative voters.
In general, majorities of the British public tend to think workers in emergency and medical services sectors – such as doctors or police officers – should not be allowed to strike while majorities do support the right to strike of other workers like teachers and railway workers.
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Firefighter unions say the strikes, which began at midday and should last four hours, are a ‘warning shot to the government’ meant to express anger over a pensions offer that would have firefighters work until they are 60 lest they lose their pensions. The government has called the pensions offer ‘generous.’
Image: Getty