Fire pay dispute spreads

Wildcat strike action by firefighters is on the brink of spreading to London today as an unofficial dispute intensifies across the country.

Firefighters in several brigades are only answering 999 calls after 19 firemen in Salford, Greater Manchester, were suspended for refusing to use new anti-terrorist equipment. The dispute quickly spread to parts of Yorkshire, the West Midlands, Wiltshire, Gloucester and Somerset. Fire Brigades Union sources said unofficial action could reach Avon and Cornwall today.

In parts of Kent firefighters have been answering 999 calls only for the last few days. Firefighters in Wales last week refused to operate the anti-terrorist equipment, leading to warnings that unofficial action could escalate.

The wildcat action comes in the wake of a breakdown in talks to finalise the deal which ended the firefighters' pay dispute last year. The union accused employers of trying to make last- minute changes to the pay deal.

The FBU voted to withdraw from the talks and to consult its members on whether to hold a fresh ballot on industrial action. Its annual conference last week was suspended and will resume next month with the calls for more strike action across the country

The last-minute hitch to the deal centered on "stand-down time", when firefighters on night duty are on call but do not carry out fire prevention work or inspections.

Employers had said that this arrangement had to change. In response the FBU ordered its members to withdraw all cooperation over use of new equipment.

A spokeswoman for the Office of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, which has responsibility for the fire service, said: "There is no justification for any such action, which could put lives and property at risk.

"Discussions between the union and employers are still ongoing and negotiations are clearly the way forward. We still hope to see an early resolution to these issues.

"But the union and its members must recognise that the June 2003 settlement made payment of salary increases dependent on progress in modernisation and this will be put in jeopardy by further industrial action."