The Fire Brigades’ Union is to
seek talks with Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott after it recommended
rejecting the latest deal to end their pay dispute.
The union’s executive has
unanimously recommended that members reject a 16 per cent pay offer which would
seen the average salary rise to £25,000 within 16 months.
Details of the offer will be
given to the brigade and to FBU representatives on next Friday 14th March at a
conference in Brighton.
Andy Gilchrist, leader of Fire
Brigades’ Union, said he wants direct talks with the Deputy Prime Minister
before discussing further strikes.
Prescott has already made it
clear he could impose a pay settlement if he wanted.
Local authority employers said
they were disappointed that union leaders had rejected what they claimed was
their final offer.
