Leaders of major public service unions are holding an urgent meeting in London today after the Government's decision to enforce pay conditions on firefighters.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott told parliament yesterday he wanted to bring back the repealed 1947 Fire Services Act, which allows the Government to set the pay, terms and conditions of work for firefighters.

This drew an angry response from the FBU, who said it would harden attitudes in their industrial dispute, and the Trade Union Congress contact group has been called together to decide the reaction of other unions.

Firefighters are demanding a 30 per cent pay rise, but the Government and fire employers say any significant rises must be linked to modernisation measures such as changed shift practices and the relocation of stations.

The contact group, with representatives from the TUC, Transport and General Workers union, Amicus, Unison, and the EPMU, was formed last October as the FBU and fire employers became deadlocked.

A spokesman told This is Local London there was no set agenda and it is not certain whether a statement or declaration will be issued at the end of today's meeting.

"The point of this meeting is to discuss the situation," he said.

TUC General Secretary Elect Brendan Barber said he was deeply concerned at how the dispute was becoming increasingly polarised.

Mr Prescott told MPs the FBU was refusing to negotiate on reasonable terms and was "playing cat and mouse with the employers, the Government, public safety and public money."

The proposed legislative changes could take two months to introduce.

More than 50,000 firefighters around the country have been on a 48-hour strike since Tuesday morning, and Mr Prescott said the ongoing industrial action was costing the country more than £1 million a day.

Andy Gilchrist, general secretary of the FBU, said the legislation went to "the heart of free trade unionism and local democracy."

"This raises major issues of principle including the ability to negotiate with our employers."

Emergency cover is being provided by 19,000 armed forces personnel, equipped mainly with aging Green Goddess fire engines, at a time when the army is fully stretched as more units are sent to the Gulf.

January 29, 2003 12:00