It has been a busy few weeks behind the scenes of UK industrial relations in the fire service, and on 4 June 2026, the picture became a great deal clearer for firefighters and fire control staff across the country.
The Fire Brigades Union Executive Council met on 3 June 2026 to consider a pay offer put forward by the National Employers — the result of weeks of intensive negotiations. The offer, set out in a formal letter to all members, represents a 3.8% pay increase to all Grey Book roles and Continuous Professional Development (CPD), with effect from 1 July 2026 if accepted.
What Has Been Recommended?
After careful consideration, the FBU Executive Council has voted, on balance, to recommend acceptance of the offer.
The factors the Executive Council weighed up included:
- The current cost of living, with inflation recorded at 2.8% in April 2026
- The significant financial pressures facing fire and rescue services
- The strategic need to maintain a collective approach to the ongoing case for Pay Reform
It is important to be clear — the Executive Council's recommendation is exactly that: a recommendation. The power to accept or reject this offer sits entirely with the membership.
What Happens Next?
A formal consultation period is now underway. An electronic ballot will open on 15 June 2026 and close on 2 July 2026.
The FBU has encouraged all members to:
- Review the full details of the offer carefully
- Engage with the consultation process in their brigade and area
- Cast their vote in the ballot
Brigade, area, and regional representatives will be available throughout the consultation period to answer questions and provide guidance on the offer.
As General Secretary Steve Wright put it in his letter to members: "Your participation is crucial in determining our final position."
Our Take — But Make It Yours
Here at UK Firefighter Hub, we are an independent platform — we don't speak for any union, employer, or government body. Our job is to keep the UK fire service community informed, connected, and heard.
We're not here to tell anyone how to vote. Whether you think 3.8% reflects the value of the work firefighters do, or whether you believe this is a moment to hold out for more — that is a deeply personal judgement that only you can make.
What we do know is this: every vote counts, and the strength of any ballot result — in either direction — depends on members making their voices heard.
So whatever your view, please vote when the ballot opens on 15 June. A low turnout helps no one.
The Bigger Picture
Pay in the fire service has been a long-running and deeply-felt issue. The push for meaningful Pay Reform remains very much alive, and the outcome of this ballot — and the size of the majority in either direction — will inevitably shape the next chapter of those conversations.
For many firefighters, this won't just be about 3.8%. It'll be about what message the membership wants to send, what conditions look like on the ground, and whether the mood in the stations reflects what's being recommended from above.
That's a conversation worth having — and one UK Firefighter Hub will continue to follow closely.
UK Firefighter Hub is an independent community platform for UK fire service personnel. We are not affiliated with the Fire Brigades Union, the National Employers, or any other industrial or governmental body. Poll results are anonymous, indicative only, and not used for any official purpose.
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