ANGRY union bosses have accused fire service chiefs of using taxpayers' money to argue their side in an industrial dispute over working conditions.

Fire Brigades Union leaders in Lancashire say national fire bosses have been taking staff away from their normal duties to help post letters to firefighters to persuade them the union is spreading misinformation.

Cash cutbacks across the country have given brigades, including Lancashire, dilemmas over how to save money.

Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw has indicated that Lancashire will not be given permission to close stations or axe part time staff, leaving county chiefs with the option of saving money in areas such as firefighters NHS and dental fees.

The National Employers have produced two colour leaflets which have been sent to every one of the 57,000 uniformed members of the UK fire service.

But in Lancashire, the FBU is alleging staff at headquarters in Fulwood, Preston, are being taken off normal duties to place the leaflets in envelopes, seal them and post them.

FBU Lancashire Secretary Tony Harris said he would like County Coun Bob Clark chairman of the fire authority to answer several questions.

He asked: "Should council tax payers money be used in such a political way, no matter how small the amount?

"Is this expenditure justified considering that, in January this year, the fire authority effectively told the public of Lancashire they were having to cut £450,000 from this year's budget. "And being a member of the national employers' side of the National Joint Council, which administers local authority fire brigades, does County Coun Clark himself not agree this is a flagrant abuse, not only of council taxpayers' money, but also of his position as chairman of the fire authority."

Coun Clark replied: "This is a load of rubbish. The FBU is simply trying to put out misinformation about the national employers.

"All we are doing is trying to inform our employees about what will happen in the future."

"With regard to the allegations about the posting of the letters, administrative staff are paid to do administrative work.

"That is all there is to it."

Also see LETTERS

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