Fire bosses deny 'growing crisis'

Firefighters are being balloted on strike action over the pay dispute

Firefighters' employers have dismissed talk of a crisis after failing to reach a deal with the Fire Brigades Union.

The FBU claims more than 20 fire authorities in England have called for a crisis meeting of the Local Government Association's Fire Forum.

John Ransford, of the LGA, admitted there will be a meeting but said talks with the union will continue.

"Some people have suggested a special meeting and I agree, but I don't think we need a crisis meeting," he said.

Mr Ransford, the LGA's director of education and social policy, said the organisation will put all its effort into sorting out the situation.

"It is taking far too much time and effort. What we need to do now is make clear to the FBU exactly what our position is", he told BBC News Online.

But he admitted that no further meetings have been arranged with the union.

The row broke out after a peace deal agreed by the FBU and LGA was voted down by the employers' side on Monday.

Scuppered

Both sides blamed each other for the break down.

The LGA said that the deal came unstuck when the union refused to accept that public holidays should be treated as normal working days.

While the FBU claimed the deal was scuppered after the crucial meeting was flooded with Labour councillors who out-voted those who were ready to sign.

Fire authorities and councillors across the UK are as angry as our members are at what happened Mike Fordham FBU assistant general secretary

The row intensified on Thursday when one of the employer's senior negotiatiors, Christina Jebb, lost her job after opposing the official line.

Ms Jebb said she was sacked, but the LGA maintain that she "stood down" following discussions.

The FBU is now balloting its members on strike action, leaving the country facing the prospect of industrial action in five weeks' time.

The government has already prepared army cover for the potential strike.

'Growing pressure'

The union said calls for a crisis meeting of the Fire Forum, made up of chief fire officers and fire authority leaders, were backed by Liberal Democrat councillors.

FBU assistant general secretary Mike Fordham said: "The latest moves show a growing revolt within the LGA on the back of Monday's meeting."

He said the employers were "reaping the whirlwind" of a decision to block the deal by allegedly bringing in extra councillors to vote against it.

He added: "Fire authorities and councillors across the UK are as angry as our members are at what happened - and that is saying something.

"There is growing pressure on them to settle this dispute in the terms agreed at the TUC."

Sticking point

What is at stake is full implementation of the deal struck in June last year including pay increases backdated to last November.

Firefighters are owed a 3.5% pay rise outstanding since November and a further 4.2% from July. LGA chief executive Sir Brian Briscoe insisted the firefighters' outstanding 3.5% pay rise would be signed off as soon as the public holiday issue is resolved.

He said: "Firefighters receive double-time pay and a day off in lieu for every public holiday worked and the LGA's position states that it is reasonable to therefore expect firefighters to work normally on such days."