Fire strike fears grow after 16% pay offer is rejected

Britain faces a new round of strikes by firefighters after they overwhelmingly rejected an offer to settle the dispute amid signs that a secret initiative to resolve the conflict had also run into the sand.

Despite concern among some firefighters about taking industrial action during the war in Iraq, one source close to the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said that during workplace votes he knew of only one fire station in the country that had accepted the 16 per cent pay offer over three years, tied to radical reforms.

And private proposals tabled by the independent chairman of the national negotiating forum late last week looked set to be rejected today by a meeting of fire authority representatives. One figure in the employers' camp said: "It's a dead cert it will be rejected.'' However, it was still hoped the blueprint might form the basis of an eventual settlement.

The proposed deal, drawn up by Frank Burchill, professor of industrial relations at Keele University, who presides at pay talks, found favour with officials with close links to the union. One said: "This has potential to settle it because it will not cost the Government a penny extra.'' The Burchill document offers firefighters a greater degree of protection for existing shift systems and declared that changes should be introduced only after a process which seeks to reach "agreement'' with the FBU rather than "consensus''. The word "agreement" is seen to be more precise.

Professor Burchill also sees a role in the short term for the present procedure for resolving disputes in introducing the radical change envisaged by employers and ministers. The document also protects firefighters from "short notice'' changes and from massive job cuts.

In a leaked letter to Andy Gilchrist, general secretary of the FBU, Professor Burchill says: "Differences between the parties are far less than perhaps they would recognise.'' He argued for changes "of a minor nature'' in the wording of the proposals, which he says are "always open to interpretation''. He said: "It would be tragic at this stage not to reach a signed agreement, given the almost total proximity of the parties.'' He adds: "An enforced outcome rather than a signed and agreed one is unthinkable.''

The Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, is preparing imminent legislation to give him the power to set wages and conditions in the fire service if there is no end to the seven-month-old dispute. Firefighters' representatives from all over Britain will meet next Tuesday in a second recalled national conference to receive reports of the overwhelming rejection of the pre-Burchill offer and to access any new developments.

Mr Gilchrist could face a motion of no confidence from more militant branches. The FBU general secretary and the union's executive advised acceptance of the existing offer, while the first recalled conference on 19 March recommended rejection.

Last year a report compiled by Sir George Bain called for sweeping changes to the service in return for an 11 per cent pay offer over two years. Despite the involvement of the former Trades Union Congress president Sir Tony Young in Professor Bain's team, the proposals were resoundingly rejected by the union.