Thousands of firefighters will not go on strike after agreeing a new pay deal following months of deadlock.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said members voted "overwhelmingly" to accept a pay settlement of 7% backdated to July 2022, plus an additional 5% from July 2023.
It said 96% of FBU members had voted to accept the deal on an 84% turnout.
In a statement, the union said: "The result makes the Fire and Rescue Service one of the only areas of the public sector to resolve its pay dispute without strike action.
"Collective bargaining was the key to this. Unlike workers in the NHS or teaching, pay is decided in direct negotiations rather than by a so-called 'independent' pay review body."
General Secretary Matt Wrack said: "Firefighters will now receive two pay increases, including nine months of back pay.
"This result is testament to the power collective action. Without the huge mandate for strike action by firefighters last month, this deal would never have been achieved."
He continued: “The crucial mechanism for achieving this outcome was direct negotiations with Fire and Rescue Service employers.
"With collective bargaining, we were able to make our case and avoid industrial action. This would not have been possible with so-called 'independent' Pay Review Body. Under a pay review body strike action would have been inevitable and the government needs to wake up to that fact.
"The FBU leadership has been determined not to sugar-coat the offer. For the current year, 7% is still another real terms pay cut. For the following year (July 2023 to July 2024), when inflation is forecast to be lower, 5% may amount to a slight increase in real terms pay."
He continued: "At a time when the UK Government is presiding over attacks on the wages of key workers in the NHS, teaching, rail, and postal services, strikes are the first line of defence against those attacks on workers.
"The FBU stands in solidarity with each and every union on strike for decent pay.
"We will now step up our resistance against the outrageous and authoritarian law that the Tories have rushed through parliament to restrict the rights of working people to take strike action in defence of wages and jobs."
