A FIREFIGHTERS' union boss says his group is sticking to a wait and see policy on strike action after reaching stalemate on proposals to change pay and holiday entitlements.

Tony Harris, of the Lancashire Fire Brigades' Union, said the ball is in the fire authority bosses' court over a dispute about conditions of service.

But fire authority chiefs claim they have done all they can and are awaiting a response from the unions before discussions can continue.

Greater Manchester union chiefs this week balloted members on industrial action, with West Yorkshire and London unions set to follow suit. The result is expected within a month.

Union bosses say plans by employers at the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades (NJC) to change pay and holiday entitlements and staffing procedures are unacceptable.

The NJC has suggested changes which would give individual local authorities powers to set staffing levels, rates of pay, holiday and overtime entitlements.

Tony Harris added: "We're not happy about the situation, but unless the employers unilaterally decide to change conditions in Lancashire, we will not ballot our members about strikes.

"The ball is in their court, but we don't know what to expect, because they are intransigent people."

Chairman of the Combined Fire Authority, County Coun Bob Clark, said: "The issue in Manchester is about divisional changes and separate to the conditions of service proposals.

"However, because there is so much going on, the unions seem happy to tie everything up together and not agree to anything.

"We have put our proposals to the unions and offered to go to conciliation to sort the matter out, but they will not agree to either.

"It's now up to them to propose alternative conditions of service to the ones we've set out so we can get back round the table, because this could go on forever."

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