London, England, United Kingdom (AHN) – Members of the Fire Brigades Union in London are set to strike for 47 hours on one of the busiest periods in their calendar. The job walk-off is set to run from Nov. 5 -7 during two holiday celebrations traditionally marked by fireworks and flame.

The 47-hour window covers bonfire night and the Hindu festival of Diwali. Bonfire night is held every Nov. 5 to remember the infamous Gunpowder Plot in November 1605 when a group of Catholics planned to blow up the English Parliament and King James I over the bad way they were treated by the monarch. The Diwali festival, which originated in India, is held between mid-October to mid-November during which small clay lamps are lit to symbolize the triumph of good over evil.

Negotiations are scheduled Wednesday between government and the union in a bid to stop the industrial action, which was triggered by a planned change in shift patterns. Firefighters struck for eight hours Saturday and plan to hold another eight-hour strike on Monday. During the Saturday strike, contract crew manned the 27 fire engines instead of the usual 150 firefighters assigned to the vehicles.

Fire Service Minister Bob Neill criticized the industrial action because its schedule appears to have been deliberately timed to result in London residents being exposed to maximum risk.

FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack said London firefighters do not want to engage in industrial action, but they have not much choice because they do not want to be bullied by officials.

Fire authorities stressed there are no budget cuts or job losses, but a planned reduction in the firefighters’ 15-hour night shift that would be added to the firemen’s day shift and more hours for community safety work and fire fighting training.

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