Talks planned to avert fire strikes
Last updated at 13:39 21 May 2004
Talks aimed at resolving the renewed firefighters' dispute are to be held early next week between employers and union leaders, it was announced today.
Officials from the Fire Brigades Union will meet local authority employers' officials in an attempt to resolve the row which has led to unofficial action breaking out across the UK.
The dispute threatens to escalate into a new national strike unless the deadlock can be broken during the new talks on Monday.
Meanwhile, the union was still waiting to hear from Greater Manchester fire chief Barry Dixon, after setting him a deadline of 4pm today, before pressing ahead with a ballot for industrial action over the suspension of firefighters in the region.
More than 70 union members in Greater Manchester have now been sent home without pay for refusing to operate new anti-terrorist equipment in protest at a breakdown in national pay talks.
A number of firefighters continued today to answer only 999 calls in protest at the suspension.
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