Fire union ponders 999 cover

Ministers want fire crews to answer 999 calls

The main firefighters' union is meeting on Wednesday to discuss whether it will respond to emergency calls during the planned strikes.

The government has been asking the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) to clarify its position on providing essential services during the walkouts.

A voluntary code drawn up in 1979 by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) says public safety should not be compromised during industrial action.

And the minister responsible for fire safety, Nick Raynsford, has asked for an assurance that the fire service would respond to 999 calls during the strike.

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Strike dates

29- 31 October

2-4 November

6 November -14 November

22-30 November

4-12 December

16-24 December

All start and end at 0900 GMT

But FBU leader Andy Gilchrist recently said there were "no guarantees" that its members would help out in emergencies.

The TUC - which supports a "very good" pay rise for the firefighters - has put together a team of trades union officials to advise the FBU.

It said on Tuesday night that the team would consider the "relevance" of the TUC guidelines on essential services.

John Prescott on Tuesday said the planned strike was "completely unnecessary and completely unjustified", and urged the FBU to "think again".

The deputy prime minister said the union's demand for a 40% pay rise and its refusal to take part in an independent pay review was "simply indefensible".

He said the government was unable to make contingency plans which were wholly adequate.

Review not trusted

Mr Prescott urged the FBU to call off strike action until the review of pay and conditions, ordered by the government, reported in December.

And although he agreed there was a need for a new pay formula for firefighters, he stressed any rise above the 4% already offered must run alongside modernisation in working practices.

The FBU has said it does not trust the review to be truly independent.

Full-time firefighters are planning to begin the series of walkouts on 29 October. Strikes will last for up to eight days at a time, and are planned to take place over 36 days.

In the event of industrial action, the Army - backed by the Royal Navy and RAF - is on standby to provide cover with 827 Green Goddess fire engines.

They will be joined by 4,000 part-time firefighters with the Retained Firefighters Union (RFU), who have condemned the FBU's action.

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