Union ponders its next move in fire row
UNION bosses from the Fire Brigades Union were due to meet this morning to discuss their latest move in a dispute with management over changes to firefighters' shift times.
Talks between fire chiefs and officials broke down in the final days of last month and since then both sides have issued a series of statements criticising the others' actions.
The initial dispute erupted more than a year ago after managers unveiled plans to scrap the existing 15-hour night shift and nine-hour day shift and bring in two equal shifts of 12 hours.
Last night deputy chief fire officer Steve Swarbrick said the brigade was committed to returning to conciliation service Acas for further talks.