FIREFIGHTERS are calling for their union chief’s resignation following an end to their long-running dispute with agreement on a 16 per cent pay rise.

The deal, which will be tied to the modernisation of the fire service, will see firefighters receive four per cent more in their next pay packets, followed by seven per cent in November and the remaining increase by next summer, to take the average salary to £25,000.

But many Greenwich and Lewisham firefighters are disappointed with the deal and are calling for Fire Brigades’ Union (FBU) chief Andy Gilchrist to resign.

Gary Vaughan, 48, who is a firefighter at Greenwich fire station, said: I think we’ve been sold down the river by our executive and Andy Gilchrist should resign.

“I don’t think any firefighter ever dreamed of getting the full amount of 40 per cent. The average firefighter would have been happy to accept 16 per cent when it was offered in June.

“But it became not just a dispute over wages. It became a fight for the fire service as the public now have it. There will be fewer firefighters, fewer fire engines and fewer fire stations.” East Greenwich FBU chairman Richard Lightfoot said: “This was bad leadership by Andy Gilchrist. What started as a very robust, legitimate pay claim got totally hijacked by the Government which used it to change all our conditions of service.” Forest Hill FBU representative Tony Owen says his branch voted overwhelmingly against the offer.

He said: “We are upset and disappointed. We voted against this deal because it doesn’t come up anywhere near to our demands and it’s a bit like signing a blank cheque. We have no idea what shifts we will be working and whether there will be any closures. Also, in London, firefighters will still have a very hard time with the cost of living.” The FBU has said delegates at a conference in Glasgow voted three to one in favour of the deal and urged members “to unite around this decision”.