FIREFIGHTERS in the county are gearing up for the latest stage of a dispute over proposed changes to their working practices.

Lancashire's Fire Brigades Union is urging members at stations across East Lancashire to support their objection to a 10-point plan to alter conditions of service.

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

They have already threatened to back any national calls for strike action and are set to make further protests at a top-level meeting next week.

Chairman of the county's Combined Fire Authority, County Coun Bob Clark, has called for the dispute to be referred to conciliation service ACAS. Coun Clark, who is also a member of the NJC, has warned union bosses to 'take their heads out of the sand' and agree to further talks.

He claims the new conditions will 'modernise' the fire service's overtime and health policies.

But the union is refusing to enter a meeting with ACAS and has called for a demonstration when the NJC meets in London next Friday.

Lancashire FBU secretary Tony Harris, said: "The employers would like the matter to be referred, but we haven't agreed to that.

"They made us a take-it-or-leave-it offer on the 10-point plan in March, which we rejected.

"Representatives from the FBU will be travelling to next week's meeting by coach and we are hoping to hold a mass demonstration to lobby them about our position."

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