NORTH Kent firefighters have slammed union leader Andy Gilchrist’s “disappointing” pay deal with the Government which, they say, could put Dartford and Gravesham lives at risk.

The settlement, which amounts to a 16 per cent increase to £25,000 in the wage packets of north Kent’s 100 firefighters, follows a bitter six-month dispute with the Government over pay.

They packed-up their picket lines following the settlement last Wednesday, but fear the pay rise may be funded by job losses and station closures — an allegation strongly denied by union bosses.

Nick Ralph, FBU north Kent division secretary, says firefighters in Dartford and Thameside Gravesend voted “overwhelmingly” against the deal but were outnumbered by the majority of firefighters in Kent.

He said: “We didn’t expect to get the £30,000 we initially asked for but we didn’t expect to have to decimate the service to get just a little bit either.” “Some of the lads feel badly let down not only by the Government but also by the union leadership,” he added.

Reports of Mr Gilchrist forking out hundreds of pounds for a meal during negotiations, were particularly unpalatable to Mr Ralph, who told News Shopper: “The amount I lost during the strike was the cost of his £800 curry.” Firefighters voted three to one for the deal which will see a four per cent pay increase this year.

This will be followed by a seven per cent boost in November and the remaining five per cent next summer.

An FBU spokesman said any future cuts had nothing to do with last week’s deal and that all FBU decisions were made following directions at the national conference.

“It was not an Andy Gilchrist show,” he said, “and if anyone wants to challenge him they’re free to do so.

“Cuts in the fire service are nothing to do with this pay deal. One of the reasons why no deal was signed over the last six months is because we refused to allow cuts in services to fund a pay deal.” “There are other plans unrelated to this which make it clear they are wanting to make cuts but we will fight every job cut and every station closure and every attempt to cut an overstretched fire service.” Some firefighters say privately there might be a leadership challenge when FBU general secretary Mr Gilchrist stands for re-election in 2005.