Fire Fighters walk out again

Talks between the FBU and fire employers have come no closer to ending the pay dispute.

The employers are still maintaining that any pay rise over four per cent will have to be paid for by modernisation, which the FBU claim means thousands of job cuts and the closing of some stations.

FBU general secretary Andy Gilchrist said: "We said we would enter negotiations free of preconditions; it is now clear our employers are not prepared to negotiate. They are still offering us four per cent with complete decimation of the UK Fire Service with any increase above four per cent being paid for with the loss of jobs."