Fire strike shelved but militants set for action

Firefighters' leaders postponed national industrial action yesterday, giving the Government and employers nine days to increase a 4 per cent pay offer.

The executive of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) "suspended" an eight-day strike due to begin tomorrow, but warned that a 48-hour stoppage would begin at 6pm on 13 November unless there was an "acceptable" deal on wages.

However, some more militant stations, mainly in east London, announced that they would nevertheless only be reacting to emergency calls last night. Their unofficial strike action, which is not expected to continue today, was taken as an angry protest to the suspension of strikes.

Andy Gilchrist, general secretary of the union, rejected any suggestion that the concession was a sign of weakness. "We are determined, confident and resolute, but we have also shown immense reasonableness and a great deal of maturity. Don't be under any illusion, we have drawn a line in the sand," he said.

Mr Gilchrist said that in the absence of a settlement the 48-hour stoppage would be followed by the three eight-day strikes ending on 24 December that had been announced. Fire authorities have indicated to the union that they might be able to table an improved offer by the time the first strike is due to start.

Mr Gilchrist said the eight-day strike had been suspended to allow time for fresh talks with fire authorities, which are due to resume today.

He said the employers had already agreed one of the main demands of the union. The fire authorities have accepted there will be a new pay formula linked to the earnings of workers in the official "associate, professional and technical" grouping. Under a deal to settle the first national strike in 1977 firefighters' wages were tied to the top 25 per cent of male manual earnings.

The FBU general secretary said employers had also accepted a claim for pay parity for part-time firefighters. But employers have asked for more information on a claim for equal pay for control room staff.

The outstanding issue is the claim by the union for a 40 per cent pay increase for firefighters, which would raise their wages from £21,500 to £30,000 a year. Mr Gilchrist said that employers had agreed to table a fresh offer before 13 November. If this proposal was not acceptable the 48-hour strike would go ahead, as would all previously planned stoppages.

The union has already called off two 48-hour stoppages as negotiations with local authorities continued. Employers are thought to be seeking new funds from Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, to improve on the existing 4 per cent offer.

The Government refused to fund a 16 per cent offer that employers made during the summer. Concessions on productivity will be demandedbefore any new proposals are tabled.

The FBU reiterated its refusal to co-operate with a government-backed review of pay and working practices chaired by George Bain, which is not due to report until mid-December. But Government sources said last night there could be an interim report from the Bain inquiry within the next few days proposing additional pay increases tied to productivity measures. This would enable the Government to argue that extra money for firefighters was funded through efficiency improvements.

Sources at the Local Government Association said new proposals would be tabled in an attempt to avert the strikes.