17 January 2003
As talks at conciliation service Acas broke up, a 24-hour strike planned for January 21 was hanging in the balance. FBU general secretary Andy Gilchrist said the union would not commit 'unreservedly' to the Bain report and had asked employers to reconsider their position.
'Once again we ask our employers to be prepared to negotiate on pay without the shackles of pre-determined outcomes. This approach is wrong, dangerous and unjustified,' he said.
The FBU has previously refused to even acknowledge the Bain report, published in December. Requesting changes may be an indication that they are ready to talk on modernisation.
The long-running dispute centres on the 40% pay claim tabled by the union last year. Employers this week offered an immediate 4% pay increase backdated to November 2002 if the FBU signs up to modernisation and a further 7% this year. The possibility of 4% the following year in a three-year pay package has also been mooted.
Employers said they would respond to the FBU before its executive meeting on January 16.
A source indicated that the FBU was attempting to limit the extent of changes to work patterns and moves to give fire service managers full power over working conditions. Both sides are due to meet again on Monday, the eve of the next strike.
'The hope is that we can get the groundwork done so we can continue with Acas on Monday,' said a spokesman for the employers.
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