UK firefighters strike threat lifted

The threat of fire service strikes in the UK was averted today after employers and firefighters’ union leaders reached agreement following a bitter dispute.

The long-running disagreement had raised the spectre of military Green Goddess vehicles once again providing fire cover on the streets of Britain.

But this afternoon’s talks, which had become stuck on the issue of employers wanting bank holidays to be treated as normal working days, mean a ballot on strike action of some 52,000 FBU members will now be suspended.

The final agreement on the June 2003 pay and conditions package also means two pay increases for firefighters will be immediately implemented.

Mike Fordham, assistant general secretary of the FBU, welcomed the deal, which he said had been achieved by “patient negotiation and goodwill on all sides”.

He added: “I hope that we can now put this dispute behind us and look forward to stability in the future and rebuild the trust and partnership which has been lacking recently.

“This has been a long and difficult dispute but in the end our union came through it strong and united.

“Our members can now get on with what they do best: providing an unrivalled professional fire and rescue service.”

Earlier this month, pay talks collapsed and the union claimed local authority employers had turned a “shambles into a crisis” after a deal to pay firefighters a 3.5% rise from last November and another 4.2% from last month was scuppered at the last minute.

Public holiday working was tied to the 3.5% rise, and the issue of whether the fire service had modernised sufficiently was linked to the 4.2% increase.

The FBU had said the public holiday issue could mean extra staff having to work at a cost of £30m (€44.5m) a year, but today’s resolution means they are to be regarded as a normal working day.

Firefighters will carry out normal duties on bank holidays while it is recognised that they are not “normal” working days.

Previous arrangements for double time and a day off in lieu for those rostered to work will still apply.

Since the breakdown of talks, employers and the FBU met informally with TUC general secretary Brendan Barber.

Mr Barber said: “I am delighted that a negotiated settlement has finally been achieved to bring this long-running chapter to a close.

“The task now for all sides will be to put the tensions of the dispute behind them so that everyone involved in the fire and rescue service can concentrate on what they do best – delivering a first-class service to the British people.”

Liz Barron, the Local Government Association representative who chairs the employers’ side in the pay negotiations, said the deal would mean qualified firefighters would earn a basic salary of £25,000 (€37,100).

She added: “These have been tough negotiations and the employers are pleased that at last we can release the remaining pay rises into fire-fighters’ pay packets.

“It was always our intention to make these pay rises, but only in return for a truly modernising fire service that keeps pace with today’s changing demands for fire prevention work and greater community safety in an increasingly 24-hour-a-day society.”

Deputy British Prime Minister John Prescott also welcomed the agreement, saying: “This is clearly good news for firefighters and their families and the public at large.

“These negotiations were the responsibility of the employers and the FBU but I have been kept in close touch with developments.

“At their request, I did meet both the FBU and representatives of the employers earlier this month and I am glad that they have been able to reach agreement.

“We must now put this dispute behind us and move forward with our common goal of providing a modern fire and rescue service fit to meet the challenges of the 21st century.”