Retained fire staff refuse to join strikes

In the run up to nationwide strike action by firefighters, a local Retained Firefighters Union representative has said that Northern Ireland's 200 retained staff would not be joining the picket lines.

The main firefighters trade union, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), voted on Friday at a rate of 9 to 1 in favour of strike action over their claims for a 40% pay increase. The strikes, comprising two 48-hour and four eight-day strikes, are set to begin on Tuesday October 29.

However, the RFU, which represents 18,000 part-time firefighters across Britain, has spoken out against the move, saying: "We do not want blood on our hands."

Local RFU representative James Campbell said: "Any member who is in the Retained Firefighters Union, or a retained member of the brigade, will not be striking. We will be there to support the local communities and we do not want blood on our hands for any member of the public.

"If we're asked to cross a picket line, we're there to provide a service to the community, the community pay us for that service, and we're more than willing to cross the picket line."

Mr Campbell said that the principle of the pay rise was unanswerable, however the demands for a 40% hike was "well above the means".

The RFU restated its no-strike stance at the union's annual conference in Gloucester last weekend, saying that pay demands were "justified" but the method to secure the change was not.

The relationship between the two unions has become strained as the prospect of a first strike by fire crews since 1977 draws near.

The National General Secretary of the RFU, Derek Chadbon, has written a letter to FBU chief Andy Gilchrist, accusing him making "wild claims" about the level of support for strike action within the RFU.

In his letter, Mr Chadbon said: "Until you are prepared to put up or shut up, we will continue to treat your claims as propaganda that is designed to mislead the media and the retained."

RFU representatives will be holding meetings with the PSNI to coordinate how to respond to any emergency calls during the strike.

Retained firefighters are paid £6.20 an hour, some 60% of the wholetime hourly rate, with annual pay averaging about £4,500 a year. The wholetime firefighters are currently paid £21,000 a year and have demanded a wage rise to £30,000.

Sir George Bain is leading a review of the pay formula and will report back to the government in mid-December.

(GMcG)