Hain: Firefighters must modernise

Peter Hain believes that firefighters must accept change

Welsh Secretary Peter Hain is adamant that UK firefighters should get a "decent deal" on pay, but insists that they will have to accept changes to the way they work.

UK firefighters, who had been demanding a pay rise of 40%, are poised to start an eight day strike on Friday.

Click here to watch the full interview

On Thursday employers are expected to offer a rise of 16%, phased in over two years, which would bring the average wage up to £25,000. But the deal would be linked to changes in working practices.

Mr Hain told HARDtalk: "It's important that the firefighters pay grievances are addressed, that they get a decent deal-that they modernise as well."

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The offer is to be put the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) on Thursday to try to head off Friday's strike.

The Government wants the FBU to allow rota patterns to be changed, firefighters to undergo paramedic training and new joint command centres to be shared by the Fire Service and Ambulance Service.

Mr Hain added that even the public realised that new working practices would deliver a more efficient service.

He said: "The way employers have run the fire stations is very old fashioned and the public which wants justice for firefighters also wants modern working conditions."

This interview can be watched in full on Thursday 21 November on BBC World and BBC News 24 at the following times:

BBC News 24 (times shown in GMT) 0430, repeated 2230

BBC World (times shown in GMT) 0330, repeated 1130, 1530, 1830, 2330