Fire union challenges Government over talks

Firefighters' leaderes challenged the Government to drop preconditions on peace talks as yesterday's 24-hour strike forced the military once again to provide emergency cover.

In an attempt to seize the initiative, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) wrote to the conciliation service Acas saying their representatives and employers were prepared to enter negotiations with a "clean sheet". The union said it was only the Government that was insisting the sweeping reforms proposed in last year's Bain report should be implemented in full.

It is thought that talks could resume tomorrow in an attempt to avert two 48-hour strikes planned for next Tuesday and 1 February, together with a prolonged campaign of industrial action including stoppages from two hours to four days. The FBU has been offered 11 per cent over two years in reply to a demand for 40 per cent which would put firefighters on £30,000 a year. The union claims the Bain report would lead to the loss of 4,500 jobs and the closure of 150 fire stations.

Firefighting duties are being undertaken by 19,000 troops, and Tony Blair said he was confident the effectiveness of Britain's military forces in a Gulf war would not be diminished by the need to make so many available for emergency cover. "We have obviously had to factor this into our plans right from the very beginning, because we didn't know whether the strikes would be going ahead or not," the Prime Minister said. "We are confident we can deal with both issues."

Attitudes hardened further yesterday when a leading Conservative MP described union leaders as a "bunch of idiots" at a time when Britain was preparing for war. Bernard Jenkin, the shadow Defence Secretary, said his message to pickets was: "You are a bunch of idiots, frankly, and you are a disgrace to your country."

Andy Gilchrist, the FBU general secretary, demanded that Mr Jenkin should apologise or be sacked, saying many firefighters had served in the armed forces and had been involved in previous conflicts. Others were reservists who were being called up because of the possible war, including one firefighter who left the picket line in Tayside, Scotland, yesterday to be measured for his military uniform. Mr Gilchrist said: "These insulting remarks have caused fury and anger. Iain Duncan Smith should demand that Bernard Jenkin withdraws his remarks and apologise or sack him."

The employers said nothing would be achieved through further strikes, adding that they were "at a loss" to understand yesterday's 24-hour stoppage. "What remains a requirement by the employers is that the Bain recommendations set the framework for negotiations," a spokesman said. "That position will not change. Consequently, for the union to achieve significant pay increases for its members it must agree to negotiate within the Bain 'framework'. There is room for negotiation and discussion on all these issues. But 'root and branch' reform will happen with or without FBU co-operation. The employers hope the union now recognises it is in their members' best interests and above all the public's interest that the FBU engages in the process of change while it still has the opportunity to influence possible outcomes."

Ted George, chairman of the employers, said he would urge the union to call off the next two strikes so negotiations could be held in a "free and calm" atmosphere.

Anger among striking firefighters in Wales, smarting from government claims that emergency Green Goddess cover was superior to services provided by professionals, threatened to boil over last night. Although the 24-hour strike was due to continue until 9am today pickets at many stations decided to stand down at 6pm yesterday in protest at the comparisons between their performance and that of their replacements drawn by the Fire Services minister, Nick Raynsford, and his colleagues. Firefighters believed they would expose the inadequacy of the auxiliary service.

In Glasgow, a 63-year-old man died in a fire at his home, the first fatality in Scotland during the dispute. Military personnel took 27 minutes from the initial call to get into his home.