FBU threaten strike ballot

Wednesday, 19 May 2004 12:00 AM

Fire fighters' leaders today warned that industrial action might be on the cards unless pay claims were settled.

Unofficial industrial action is in progress across the country with fire fighters claiming they have not yet received the pay rise promised to settle last year's dispute.

John MacDonald, an executive member of the Fire Brigade Union (FBU) this morning warned that there were likely to be calls for strike ballots.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland he said: "If employers carry-on in this manner, yes I could imagine there's going to be calls this afternoon for ballots for future industrial action".

In an official statement this afternoon the FBU said it would ballot for industrial action at its conference in June unless an agreement is reached. It called on employers to "stop trying to duck out of their agreements, sign off the deal and pay up"

Brigades in Tayside, the West Midlands, Wiltshire, Yorkshire and Gloucester are currently only answering 999 calls though there are fears that the action could escalate further.

The FBU also claimed that fire fighters in Manchester have been threatened with dismissal over the dispute, and as such it has given authority for a strike ballot in the Manchester area.

It warned: "If anyone is dismissed, there will be an immediate recall of the union's conference with a recommendation for strike action."

Last year's bitterly divisive dispute, the first fire strikes in 25 years, was settled in June with the acceptance of a 16 per cent pay offer, dependent on the brigades accepting modernisation. Though pay was a key issue, the dispute also revolved around Government plans to change the running and structure of the fire service.

This restructuring, including revoking a ban on overtime, training in higher level resuscitation skills and an enhanced role in terror and contingency planning, led to concern that the fire service was being asked to cover up deficiencies in other services.

The recent unofficial action was sparked by the suspension of 19 fire fighters in Salford, whom allegedly refused to use the new anti-terror equipment as they had not received the promised pay rises. However John MacDonald indicated that another factor in the suspension was the men's refusal to sign new and un-agreed contracts,

The striking fire fighters claim that the public are not being put at risk by the action. However, a spokesman for John Prescott said that the action was indefensible and putting lives at risk

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