Unions' optimistic note over fire strike

The armed forces will be called on at the weekend

Union leaders have come out of a "constructive" meeting with Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott saying progress towards resolving the fire dispute is possible.

Firefighters resumed their duties at 0900 GMT on Thursday, but are due to start another 48-hour stoppage at the weekend.

The temperature had been raised by what the firefighters and other unions said were suggestions by Mr Prescott that he would impose a deal to end the strike deadlock.

Anything that can help break the deadlock and allow serious and proper negotiations should be explored

Andy Gilchrist
FBU leader

But Brendan Barber, general secretary elect of the TUC, said his hour-long meeting with Mr Prescott in Whitehall on Thursday afternoon had been "very useful".

After the talks, also attended by union leaders including Bill Morris of the TGWU and Dave Prentis of Unison, Mr Barber said: "A number of ideas are beginning to emerge about ways of moving forward.

"We hope we can move to a position where negotiations can resume."

Negotiations between the FBU and the firefighters' local government employers have been impeded for some time by whether controversial modernisation proposals can be a pre-condition on all talks.

'Serious negotiation'

Union officials said the government's plans to use legislation to end the strike - announced by Mr Prescott on Wednesday - had "added fuel to the fire".

But although Mr Barber said he and his fellow leaders had voiced their concerns about the threat to impose a deal on the FBU, he hoped it would not become an issue if a settlement could be reached.

Mr Prescott said at Thursday's Cabinet meeting that he hoped to get into the position of some "serious negotiation" leading to a settlement.

Brendan Barber voiced union concern

Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman said of the Cabinet meeting: "Everybody hoped that people now regarded that it was time to get it [the strike] sorted out."

The spokesman said Mr Blair paid tribute to Mr Prescott's "excellent" handling of the dispute "and this was warmly endorsed by other members of the Cabinet".

FBU leader Andy Gilchrist welcomed the meeting between Mr Prescott and the TUC, adding: "Anything that can help break the deadlock and allow serious and proper negotiations should be explored."

Earlier Mr Gilchrist had sounded a defiant note, saying the message from FBU members remained "loud and clear" that they would not accept an imposed settlement.

A spokesman for Mr Prescott's department said: "It was a useful meeting and we hope that the TUC can help get the parties back around the negotiating table."

The latest strike saw Army personnel covering for the firefighters deal with 2,000 calls, during which six people died.