Talks continue to resolve fire strike

Employers want to avoid the next strike

Talks between firefighters and the government are continuing on Tuesday in an effort to avert another strike.

Leaders of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) are holding informal discussions with chief negotiators from local authority employers.

Mr Prescott has further talks planned

The union's general secretary Andy Gilchrist is also due to hold further negotiations with Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

Downing Street has said both sides "were now talking about how to achieve a consensus".

There is even speculation a planned eight-day strike - starting on Friday - could be cancelled or delayed if talks go well.

But there is still a huge gap between the union's 40% pay claim and an offer worth 11.3% over two years, which the FBU has rejected.

Firefighters held a 48-hour strike last week, with 1950s Green Goddesses covering for the country's fleet of hi-tech engines.

Credible solution

Ian Whitaker, spokesman for the Local Government Association, said informal talks were continuing.

"We hope that there will be a full negotiating meeting later in the week."

He said it was possible this could be as early as Wednesday although no date had been confirmed.

According to the Times newspaper, union officials are encouraged by progress.

The paper suggested a three-year deal, linked to changes in working practices, was the most credible solution.

Despite the talks, the government insists no extra money will be available.

What we have to secure is substantial change, some of which would help finance any eventual pay settlement

Sir Jeremy Beecham

It supports the review by Sir George Bain, and believes any double figure pay rise for firefighters would have to be self-financing.

Chancellor Gordon Brown has said the union is "wrong" to be seeking such a big increase.

The government wants the FBU to allow crews of full and part-time firefighters, joint control rooms for fire, ambulance and police services, paramedic training for firefighters and an end to pre-planned overtime.

It believes this will bring considerable efficiency savings.

Union leaders, however, are not convinced the figures add up and are resistant to calls for reforms.

'Call it off'

The BBC's Stephen Cape said employers have called on the government to make it clear who would pay for firefighters' pay rise warning a speedy conclusion to the crisis cannot be achieved without this.

Earlier the chairman of the Local Government Association, Sir Jeremy Beecham, insisted any additional money had to be tied to firefighters modernising their working practices.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he was wary of a 16% increase being floated by the FBU.

"I don't think we can begin with a starting point of 16%, which is what the union is now talking about," he said.

But he added he was "encouraged by the suggestion that they are now seriously thinking about change.

"What we have to secure is substantial change, some of which would help finance any eventual pay settlement, some of which would at least have significant benefits in terms of saving lives and providing an improved service.

He did not rule out the possibility of a longer term deal as he appealed to the firefighters to call off Friday's strike.

Sir Jeremy insisted the government had not blocked a pay deal in the summer, which would have seen firefighters receiving a 16.1% increase over two years.

Firefighters have been buoyed by an opinion poll, which showed public support for their claim had risen.

An ICM poll for The Guardian found 53% believed the firefighters' action was justified - compared to 47% at the end of last month.