Trade
union Unison has called on the Government to find the funds to end the fire
dispute.
The
union backs the Fire Brigades Union stance, demanding an inflation-busting pay
increase that is not linked to the Government’s modernisation agenda.
The
union also welcomed the intervention of the arbitration service Acas and has
urged the Government and the employers to use it as an opportunity to reach a
settlement.
A
statement from the union’s National Executive Joint Council, said: "We
call on the Government to resolve this current dispute by making real
investment available now, and condemn those within government who see this
dispute as a way of taking on public sector trade unions.
"Confrontation
with public sector workers cannot be the way forward for a Labour government.
It will not lead to improvements in public services that we seek."
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It
continued: "We support the FBU view that modernisation of the fire service
should not be at the expense of the public safety, nor should it mean fewer
firefighters, fewer fire stations and fewer fire engines."