Fire strike looks to be over before it’s begun

Nov 11 2008 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

INDUSTRIAL action threatened by local firefighters looks to have been averted after eleventh-hour talks.

The Fires Brigades’ Union (FBU) and Tayside Fire and Rescue had been locked in a bitter row over proposed changes to the service.

Members had been at loggerheads over the loss of 16 front-line firefighters, as well as changes to holiday entitlement for non-operational uniformed members, something the FBU said it would continue to campaign against.

But the FBU went on to say it will recommend it’s members to accept the improved offer they received after talks on Friday.

A ballot will now take place on November 14.

With the union backing the deal it’s improvement, it is unlikely firefighters will want to continue the dispute.

Tayside FBU branch secretary Jim Malone said: “There was an improved offer to the FBU so the ballot has been postponed for a week to allow consultation with our membership.

“What I would say is that on the basis of the improved offer the Tayside FBU committee will recommend the acceptance of that offer.

“We are obviously pleased that managers have been serious at this time in their negotiations, although the threat of industrial action has not yet been lifted,” he said.

Mr Malone went on to say he believed the FBU members would accept the deal and that efforts would now be focused on convincing councillors to reject plans by Tayside Fire and Rescue to downgrade 24-hour cover at Balmossie Fire Station, Broughty Ferry.

Any industrial action, however unlikely it may now seem, would have stopped crew members from doing any overtime which may have affected the number of engines on the streets

Tayside Joint Fire Board convener Ken Lyall said: “I think there has been huge progress made by the fire service managers and the FBU.

“The ballot has been delayed to allow more positive dialogue to take place.

“At the moment it looks very positive and on behalf of the fire board we’ll be very pleased if there is a resolution– and that looks like happening soon,” he said.