Firefighters angry at being left in the dark about their pay dispute are deciding their next moves at a special conference in two weeks.

Union officials from all over England will again meet at the Hilton Metropole, in Brighton, on April 15, to try to find a solution to the long-running dispute that has seen troops brought in to cover during strikes by firefighters.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is currently preparing new laws after Fire Brigade's Union members, meeting in Brighton two weeks ago, rejected a 16 per cent pay rise over three years.

The increase, linked to modernised working practices, had been recommended for approval by FBU executives who said it was the best available offer in the current political climate.

However, grassroots union members said they believed the deal, which would have lifted basic salaries from £21,500 to £25,000, would not represent their long-term interests.

They also insisted the proposed deal was nowhere near the 40 per cent increase the FBU was demanding.

Secretary for the FBU's Worthing branch Andy Hockley said union members were unhappy at being left in the dark over the precise details of the settlement.

He said: "The money being offered isn't a problem at all. Our main issue is with the conditions linked to working practices.

"They effectively want us to agree to something we don't even know the details of, which is totally unacceptable."

"If you were asked by your employer to change your working hours but weren't told what they were being altered to, you would be concerned"

Chairman of the East Sussex FBU Steve Huggins said: "We are angry because there is nothing specific on the table.

"There are no guarantees about working practices and it is like being asked to sign a blank sheet of paper that could see stations closed and fire cover for the people of Sussex drastically reduced."

Monday March 31 2003