Talks held as firefighters' strike, round one, ends

The British firefighters’ strike is in its final full day today as informal talks resumed between both sides in the bitter dispute, with little prospect of a deal being agreed.

The walkout will end at 9am tomorrow, and a fresh eight-day strike will start next Wednesday unless progress is made in the renewed contact between the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and local authority employers.

John Ransford, one of the employer’s negotiators, said today’s private talks were at “secretarial” level to exchange notes, and no new offer would be tabled.

“We have no new proposal to put to the FBU at this sworking with the Government on the formulation of a new proposal.”

The employers called on the union to suspend next week’s strike to allow “technical work” to continue unimpeded by the dispute.