The Fire Brigades Union meets today to decide whether to press ahead with a 24- hour strike tomorrow morning.

The FBU and Fire Employers met for talks late last week in an attempt to end their long-running industrial deadlock, but were unable to make substantial headway.

Nearly 20,000 armed forces personnel were deployed as emergency cover during the latest strike last Wednesday, when 50,000 firefighters across the UK walked off the job.

Firefighters are demanding a 40 per cent pay rise, but have been told by their employers and the Government that any significant pay increases will have to be funded by savings through modernisation.

The FBU says modernisation will result in drastic job cuts and fire stations closures, and lead to more fire risks to the public.

January 27, 2003 17:00