FBU executive to discuss strike options
On the eve of Bonfire Night yesterday, frantic talks took place to halt wildcat fire strikes across Britain.
Overall, more than half of the 56 brigades have joined unofficial industrial action over a delayed pay increase and were only answering 999 calls.
Firefighters claim employers have reneged on a pay promise made in June.
They claim the seven per cent pay rise for November has been reduced to 3.5 per cent.
On Wednesday, the dispute, which began in Norfolk, had spread to London, Cheshire and East Anglia.
Andy Gilchrist, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), and deputy, Mike Fordham, met local employers’ leaders for private talks last night.
The outcome of the discussions will be conveyed to the FBU’s executive today, and a new ballot on the June agreement could be called.
A spokeswoman for the Local Government Association said: “The employers’ position on the payment schedule is not going to change. They are only entitled to 7 per cent if they meet the two conditions clearly set out. Neither has been met.”
Phillip Hammond, Tory spokesman on local government called on the Government to bring the dispute to a speedy conclusion.
“I think the Government has been micromanaging this dispute from the beginning and it is time it stepped out of the shadows now and took responsibility for what is happening.
“I think what the Government could do now is make it clear publicly that it will stand by the employers if they take a tough line: that it will be prepared to make troops available if there will be full 999 strikes.”
Ahead of the meeting today, the FBU’s Mike Shaw warned that nationwide strikes loomed on the horizon: “I very much hope for a breakthrough tomorrow, but that very much depends on the attitude of the employers.
“Unfortunately it does remain a possibility that we could a return of the kind of action that we had to take last year.”
