Leaders
of the firefighters union are due to announce dates for its first national
strike in 25 years.
Strikes
are expected to be scheduled for later this month – forcing hospitals,
airports, train operators and other public services to put emergency plans into
action.
Union
leaders say they are certain a ballot for industrial action will return a ‘yes’
vote.
Deputy
prime minister John Prescott has urged the Fire Brigades Union to call off the
"futile" strikes until a government-appointed pay inquiry reports in
December.
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The
union wants a 40 per cent wage rise to take firefighters pay to £30,000 a year.
