Liverpool firefighters set to strike

Green Goddesses were used during a strike in Essex

Firefighters in Liverpool are set to start an eight-day strike in a dispute over recruitment.

Army Green Goddess fire engines have been drafted in to provide cover in the city when the strike starts at 0900BST on Friday.

The bitter dispute began after the Merseyside Fire Authority proposed appointing non-uniformed staff to senior management posts previously reserved for experienced firefighters.

Liverpool's Chief Fire Officer, Malcolm Saunders, said the authority had been hoping to encourage more women and people from ethnic minorities to join the service.

But almost 83% of Merseyside's 1,400 officers voted for the stoppage.

The only contribution the fire authority is making to the dispute is to threaten our members and try to inflame the situation

Les Skarratts
Fire Brigades Union Merseyside Secretary

Firefighters from across the UK are expected to join a march through the city later on Friday.

Green Goddesses were last used during a firefighters' strike in Essex three years ago.

Soldiers tackled fires on Merseyside during the previous firefighters' strike, which started in 1995 and lasted for nine months.

But this time the authority is threatening to take money from strikers to pay for the armed forces' emergency cover.

Mr Saunders estimates the net cost at about £1m - almost £1,000 for every firefighter.

In a letter to Fire Brigades Union (FBU) members he said: "The cost to the authority of obtaining cover will be a direct consequence of your decision to act in breach of your contractual obligations.

"Accordingly it would be appropriate to set off from your salary the proportion of that cost to the authority attributable to your decision to take industrial action."

Soldiers prepare for action in 1995

But FBU general secretary, Andy Gilchrist, said the firefighters had been left with "no option" after the authority ignored the ruling of a disputes panel.

The union's Merseyside secretary, Les Skarratts, added: "The only contribution the fire authority is making to the dispute is to threaten our members and try to inflame the situation."