Firemen hit out at planned cuts
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• The Fire Brigade Union is bracing itself for strike action i the Government pursues prop osals to slash fire service man power by up to 20%.
Lord Ferrers, the Home Office minister responsible for the fire service, outlined costcutting measures he wants a tripartite working party to investigate, in a recent letter to the FBU and employers.
These include the possible abolition of the current pay for mula, which was thrashed out after the 1977 strike; changes to duty systems, and the reintroduction of rostered overtime, with the possibility of full-time city firemen doubling as part-timers for country areas.
The DIM has slammed the suggestions, warning that if inplemented they could result in as many as 10,000 of the UK': 50.000 firemen being made re. dundant. This dispute follows an earlier battle over Government proposals to close up to six London stations, with the loss of around 500 jobs.
FBU general-secretary Ken Cameron, commenting on the possible findings of the workin party, warns: "There is no doubt that if, at the end of the day, they come to the same conclusion with hundreds of jobs going, then we will ballot for strike action."