NI firefighters join pay protest

Picket lines could return if agreement is not reached

Firefighters in Northern Ireland are joining colleagues across the UK in unofficial industrial action in a row over a pay deal intended to end the long-running fire service dispute.

It is understood that nine stations in the province started a work to rule on Tuesday afternoon and will only answer 999 calls.

Firefighters in England and Scotland are also taking part in the action.

Talks are to resume on Wednesday in an attempt to resolve the dispute.

The action will affect the day-to-day running of stations, with no training, equipment maintenance or safety inspections being carried out for its duration.

Jim Quinn from the Fire Brigades' Union sought to reassure the public that the action would not affect them.

"They will receive the full cover from the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade, which they have come to expect," he said.

"Obviously what has happened has been spontaneous, and I am unaware what is going to happen in the days ahead.

"It's down to the members how they feel - the FBU has not given directions to anyone on this matter."

Anger has been mounting among firefighters since it emerged they would not receive a 7% pay rise from the start of this month.

Employers say the rise, due to come into effect on Friday, is conditional on changes being made in the fire service which are not yet complete.

NI UNOFFICIAL ACTION Ballymena Lisburn Lurgan Newry Crescent Link, Londonderry Northland Road, Derry Springfield Road, Belfast Whitla Street, Belfast Westland Road, Belfast

Action is being taken in South Yorkshire and Humberside, Derbyshire, Wiltshire, Strathclyde, Grampian, Fife, Norfolk, Nottinghamshire and Northern Ireland.

There are also unconfirmed reports of action in Merseyside and Essex.

Local authority employers have offered an initial 3.5% increase, with a further 3.5% rise backdated to 7 November once the changes are complete.

Fire Brigades' Union leader Andy Gilchrist said his members were "extremely angry" their pay rise was to be paid in two stages.

The move was being seen as "political vindictiveness," he said.

"This has put fire service morale at an all-time low."

This is seen as some sort of political vindictiveness and on the frontline is seen as bad form and people are extremely angry Andy Gilchrist FBU

No agreement was reached in a meeting on Monday night between FBU leaders and employers.

Jeff Ord, president of the Chief Fire Officers' Association, told BBC News: "Why take illegal action now?

"It's going to jeopardise the public and damage the reputation of the service."

Mr Ord said the Audit Commission would not be able to ratify the full 7% until next March.

Bonfire Night

A spokeswoman for the employers said: "The FBU has always been aware that the 7% would be payable from 7 November but not on 7 November.

"The agreement we signed in June required two conditions to be met, neither of which have yet been fulfilled. When they are, it will be backdated to 7 November."

The dispute has flared as fire services across Britain prepare for Bonfire Night on Wednesday.

The long-running pay dispute appeared to have been resolved in June, after months of strikes in which the Army used green goddess vehicles to provide cover.

Under the June agreement, 4% was paid immediately, back-dated to last November.

A further 7% was due this month, followed by a final rise of 4.2% next summer, lifting a firefighter's pay to £25,000.