UNION bosses were yesterday (Wed) expected to rubber-stamp a deal to settle the firefighters' pay dispute.

The Fire Brigades Union's acceptance of new wording in contracts of employment would mean crews would finally receive a 3.5 per cent pay increase, due since last November, as part of the force modernisation.

The union says failure by the national employers to award the penultimate phase of last year's agreed 16 per cent pay increase led to the recent unofficial strike action by crews across Greater Manchester and in other parts of the country.

Firefighters from Broughton, Salford and Ashton refused to use new anti-terrorist decontamination equipment and were subsequently sent home without pay.

Colleagues in Bury, Whitefield and Ramsbottom responded to 999 calls only for a short time in support of those suspended while the union threatened to ballot its 2,000 members for industrial action.