Firefighter strike 'threatens UK'

Two of Britain's firefighters come to the rescue of a flooding victim

LONDON, England -- Firefighters are due to vote on strike action that threatens to disrupt Britain's transport system and paralyse much of the country.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is holding a special conference in Manchester, in north west England, on Thursday which is expected to sanction a vote for industrial action over pay among 55,000 firemen and women across the UK.

But businesses and public services have warned that fire service protection is vital if they are to remain operating.

They say sporting events, airports, underground rail systems, and even the Channel Tunnel -- all of which are dependent on proper fire cover -- could grind to a halt.

Union officials representing the Kent Fire Brigade, in south east England, which provides cover for the Channel Tunnel, have said the county's fire fighters have already voted unanimously to support a ballot for strike action.

Britain's rail unions have said they will support the fire fighters' action -- which would be the first strike by firefighters in 25 years,.

Rail workers are to be balloted on industrial action after union leaders did not receive assurances they were seeking on alternative fire cover.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union had given the operators of the UK's largest underground rail networks -- including London Underground and Merseyrail, in Liverpool -- a deadline to explain their contingency plans in the event of a firefighters' strike.

A rail union spokesman told PA: "We have not received the assurances we asked for, so we are now in dispute with these companies."

Members of the FBU in are demanding pay increases of up to 40 percent to take the average salary to £30,000 ($46,632) a year.

But their employers, the Local Government Association, are offering four percent.

A firefighters strike could force the closure of the Channel Tunnel

Andy Gilchrist, the union's general secretary, told the Press Association: "We are absolutely determined to finally end the tradition of low pay in the fire service. That will be a thing of the past at the end of this dispute."

He added: "It is entirely conceivable that we could see the second national strike before the end of October.

He was quoted by the Times Newspaper as saying: "A significant number of areas of normal life would be affected (by a strike)."

Firefighters played a much bigger role in society than during the last national strike in 1977, he added.

On the first anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks in the U.S., where the spotlight fell on the vital role played by firefighters in New York and Washington, he urged the UK government to "put its money where its mouth is" to protect the public.

Dick Pearson, the union's official in Wales, said: "Firefighters and Emergency Fire Control Staff in Wales have made it clear to us that they are no longer prepared to be classed as professional workers, whilst being paid as manual workers.

"They are professionals and are determined to secure a professional rate of pay."

A spokesman for the English Football League said a national strike by firefighters could affect many sporting fixtures, including soccer games, because all sports grounds need a safety certificate.

Fire cover was included in safety certificates, which were issued by local authority safety advisory groups.

The spokesman said: "Should a strike become imminent we will advise our clubs and it will then become a local issue.

"If there is no safety certificate, fixtures will have to be called off."