Firefighters agree to vote on strike

The threat of a national strike by firefighters moved a step closer today when union leaders agreed unanimously to ballot for industrial action over pay.

Around 55,000 firefighters across the UK will vote over the next few weeks on whether to stage the first national walk-out in the fire service for 25 years.

A series of 24 or 48-hour strikes could begin at the end of October unless the deadlock is broken.

The ballot was sanctioned by a special conference of the Fire Brigades Union today when 242 delegates from all 58 brigades unanimously agreed the move.

Delegates voted on a show of hands unanimously in favour of a strike ballot and again in a card vote showing 51,849 supporting a ballot and none against.

The delegates stood and applauded when the result of the card vote was announced.

Arrangements will now be made to ballot firefighters across the UK as part of the union's campaign for a near 40% pay rise to boost salaries from £21,500 to £30,000.

The union, which has rejected a 4% offer, served notice on the Government and local authority employers that they were determined to achieve a decent pay rise even if that leads to the use of military Green Goddesses.

FBU officials from all parts of the country spoke out in support of the pay claim and strike ballot, and several launched angry attacks against the employers and the Government, especially the Prime Minister, who has warned that meeting the pay claim would hit the economy.

A review into the fire service announced last week by the Government was described as a "stitch up" by delegates, who made it clear they will not play any part in the inquiry.

Delegate after delegate received loud applause and occasional standing ovations when they said it was time to fight for a pay rise and expressed determination to back that up with industrial action.