A FIREMAN has hit back angrily at comments by Bury councillor Alan Matthews who called the threatened strike for better pay a "silly and selfish act".

Dave Hurd, who has 25 years' experience and earns just £1,000 more than newly qualified firefighters on £21,500, accused the councillor of being a hypocrite in a bid to turn the public against the fire service.

Coun Matthews is Bury's representative on the Greater Manchester Fire and Civil Defence Authority, which is currently negotiating with Fire Brigade Union officials in a bid to avert the strike.

However, Mr Hurd, who lives in Bury, said: "How can we expect a deal from someone who does not have the facts, spews out such blatant lies and doesn't know what our job entails?

"Is carrying out council duties dangerous? Do his wife and children fear that he may not return every time he leaves home to attend a meeting? He is a hypocrite and I find his comments repulsive."

"How Councillor Matthews can say that we are silly and selfish for supporting and taking strike action beggars belief. He believes our fight for a 40 per cent wage increase is ridiculous but didn't he vote to increase the councillors' allowances by 50 per cent?"

The Labour councillor claimed last week that firefighters were on the same wages as police officers and were on more money than some doctors and nurses.

However, Mr Hurd explained that the police officer's wage, averaging £29,941, is based on a 36-hour week, compared to a firefighter who is paid for 42 hours but works a 48-hour week.

He said: "By the end of the year we do more than 300 hours of work without pay. We cannot supplement our wage by doing extra shifts, nor do we get any extra money for working nights or weekends. Our pay formula dates back to 1977 and this must change.

The father-of-two has spent all of his 25-year career working at Swinton and has not enjoyed a considerable wage increase since he receive a £1,000 loyalty payment ten years ago.

He said: "Since I joined the fire service our job description has changed so much. It is not just about fighting fires any more or giving basic first aid.

"Our skills are more advanced and wide-ranging than ever before. We are dealing with an increased number of road traffic accidents, providing a greater standard of first aid care, involving ourselves in water and rope rescues and chemical incidents, to name just a few of the more dangerous aspects of our job.

"Yet we still only get paid to put water on a fire. We are classed as non-skilled workers and are paid the going rate. But we are fighting to be recognised as skilled workers, who earn on average £30,000 a year. Hopefully the independent review will re-define our employment status.

"I am no different than any other firefighter in the country. We love the job, we will save lives. All the emergency services deserve more money for the jobs that they do."