07 February 2003
John Prescott rescinded his threat to impose a pay package on firefighters on the condition that they commit to three to four weeks of fresh negotiations.
Under the deal, employers and the FBU can 'bring anything to the table' with 'nothing ruled in or out'. Pay, however, will still be linked to modernisation, but Prescott has promised full consultation.
He is proposing to create an 'ad hoc forum' to discuss such modernisation and pledged that despite his announcement of the repeal of Section 19 of the 1947 Fire Service Act there would be consultation locally on any changes.
The FBU, for its part, has agreed not to timetable any strikes during the negotiations. Talks are due to begin at the conciliation service Acas next week.
A spokesman for the employers said the gap between the two sides was still very deep but the log jam had been broken.
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