Fire pay bill clears first hurdle

Both sides have stood their ground

John Prescott's controversial bill giving him powers to impose a pay deal on firefighters has cleared its first hurdle in the House of Commons - but with another backbench revolt.

Less than 24 hours after 65 Labour rebels voted against the government over foundation hospitals, 27 left-wing MPs have defied government whips.

MPs voted to give the Fire Services Bill a second reading by 284 votes to 59, majority 225.

The result is a comfortable early victory for the deputy prime minister, who has called on firefighters to accept a "generous" 16% pay rise or face a government-imposed settlement.

Mr Prescott made his uncompromising position clear, unveiling plans to give himself powers to set or modify pay and conditions of fire brigade members.

If the FBU does not accept the final offer I will use the arbitration powers in this bill to bring about a settlement

John Prescott

Labour MPs who voted against the bill

He said he had brought the legislation "with some reluctance", but after 12 months of negotiations, offers of pay settlements and threats of further strikes, there was no choice.

The bill will now pass to its lengthy committee stage where rebels, who say it will make "a reasonable settlement more not less difficult to achieve", will have another chance to air their views.

Deadlock

Labour's Andrew Dismore signalled that dissent, describing the bill as a recipe for "guerrilla warfare" in the fire service.

Mr Dismore - the Fire Brigade Union's solicitor for 17 years before he became an MP - added: "The bill will make things worse and will make resolution of the dispute less likely and modernisation harder to achieve."

But Mr Prescott said he had to break the deadlock, partly because military cover during any future strikes would be "significantly reduced".

Keeping troops on standby for firefighting duties was having a "detrimental effect" on British troops in Iraq.

We reject the idea of an imposed pay offer and the massive cuts, which will come with it

Andy Gilchrist
FBU

He announced the release of 5,000 troops from standby firefighting duties, for training and other operational skills.

That leaves 11,000 servicemen available for firefighting cover, but this will drop to 9,000 by the end of May - less than half the 19,000 who provided emergency cover during past walkouts.

Mr Prescott said he hoped not to have to impose a deal on the FBU.

But he stressed: "If the FBU does not accept the final offer I will use the arbitration powers in this bill to bring about a settlement."

Reform

He said this measure was not about getting rid of second jobs, forcing firefighters to work unreasonable shifts or job losses.

But he warned: "If I am forced to arbitrate a settlement, which I hope I will not be, I will not be bound to stick to the 16% offer."

FBU General Secretary Andy Gilchrist said: "This is a deeply disturbing move. We reject the idea of an imposed pay offer and the massive cuts, which will come with it.

"It will cause deep resentment within the fire service. You can impose an offer - you can't impose agreement. It is a sad day for democracy and a bad day for the fire service."

Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport union, said: "This move shows contempt for working people and our public services. It is undemocratic, dismisses the very human rights this government pretends to champion and is a challenge to every trade unionist in Britain."

'Incompetence'

The Local Government Association (LGA) said there was now a "finite period" for the union to accept the final offer, which would guarantee a £25,000 salary for firefighters by next summer.

Mr Prescott said fresh fire strikes would result in "significantly reduced fire cover" and lives being put at risk.

The FBU claims planned changes to the service could mean the loss 5,000-10,000 jobs, but Mr Prescott put the figure at 1,900, mainly through retirement.

Tory shadow deputy prime minister David Davis said the public would find it hard to decide who to blame - the FBU for "intransigence" or the government for "incompetence".

He called the bill a "botched job", which could "leave a legacy of bitterness for decades if it goes wrong".