The dispute first got mainstream media attention in June, when Merseyside Fire Brigades Union representatives began meeting Fire Authority officials to protest against proposals to cut £3.5 million from the budget.

When Authority officials refused to budge, the FBU balloted its members about taking strike action. The result was announced in late August, with 71% of the 890 members who returned their ballot papers voting for strike action.

The first four day strike began on 31st August, with 170 former firefighters crossing the picket line and providing a minimal service.

More than two weeks later, the Fire Authority had refused to back down, so firefighters were still on strike. The FBU held a massive march and rally in Liverpool city centre, at which around five thousand firefighters from around the country, assorted trade unionists and Liverpool-based well-wishers expressed their solidarity with the strikers.

On 29th September, after nearly four weeks of strike action against the to the Merseyside fire service, Fire Brigades Union negotiators agreed to implement £3.5 million of 'savings'. The details of these cuts can be read here.

We must recognise that it was the profit system that demanded these cuts, and the profit system that took the Territorial Army off to fight for control of oil, leaving Merseysiders with little cover during the strike. Working class people must unite, and organise to fight the profit system itself! We have a whole world to win!