Fire crews on strike again

Andy Gilchrist, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, was due to visit staff at Crawley as part of a whistlestop tour which will also take in Preston Circus, Brighton.

At the stroke of 9am, firefighters at Crawley and Haywards Heath crews joined thousands across the country as the first industrial action of the new year began.

This follows a series of walkouts over pay last year. The Royal Navy will once again provide cover with Green Goddess machines.

The latest strikes were announced as pay talks between the union and their employers broke down over a proposed 11 per cent pay rise which the union says will be linked to job cuts.

At Haywards Heath, Green Watch commander Rod Cairncross and wife Sandy were on the picket line.

Mr Cairncorss, 47, said: "I'm here because I'm fed up with low pay and being treated like a lower-class citizen. I've been in the fire brigade for 27 years, I'm head of the watch and still on £25,000 per year.

"I don't want to strike but we've exhausted all other avenues. On my days off I work cleaning carpets in order to give my family a decent lifestyle. It's not a perk to work on your days off.

"We've got a lot of support but for those who don't support us and say we're whingeing, it a sad reflection from the people I've served for 27 years. We're fighting for the high quality service we want to provide."

His wife said: "I'm here because I want him home on his days off. All the wives come down to support and our kids will be down later."

Members of the Green Watch stood around a blazing brazier and cars driving past beeped to show their support.

Hand-painted signs on either side read "For Sale, Blair, Bain, Prescott and Co, 10 Downing Street". Another sign read "It ain't over till the fat man sings".

Firefighters fear modernisation called for in the Bain Report will mean station closure and a loss of jobs.

Firefighter Les Maddons said: "If I lived in a small village, such as Keymer, I would be worried that the station might close. Keymer could be run FROM FRONT PAGE from a bigger station as a cost-cutting measure.

"We're not just fighting for our pay - we're fighting for the service we provide."

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott insisted the Bain Report into the fire service, which recommended an 11 per cent pay rise over two years, heavily linked to modernisation, gave the framework for a deal.

But the union said normal negotiations were being ruled out because of preconditions being set by fire authority employers, including commitment to the Bain proposals.

The FBU has complained these include a two per cent cut in jobs every year for the next four years, changes to the pension scheme and fewer firefighters on duty at night.

Mr Gilchrist said after yesterday's meeting of the union's executive it was "greatly disappointing" for firefighters and control room staff the strike was going ahead.

"We are still pressing for talks without preconditions that dictate the outcome."

The union is planning two 48-hour strikes from January 28 and February 1 and is expected to call further walkouts in the next few months if an improved offer is not made.

Mr Prescott told the Commons: "Let me say once again to the FBU and its members that if they persist in their programme of industrial action, the Government will fully discharge its responsibilities.

"Our primary responsibility, especially at a time of heightened public concern about terrorism, is to do everything possible to provide the highest level of protection to the public."

Today shadow defence secretary Bernard Jenkin called on ministers to ask the Attorney General to outlaw the strike in the run-up to potential war with Iraq.

"I don't think many people have any idea what a huge fiasco this is causing in the armed forces," Mr Jenkin said.

"This is throwing the armed forces into a crisis."

A total of 17 members of the FBU walked out this morning at Haywards Heath and five members of the Retained Firefighters Union pledged not to cross the picket line.