10:20am Friday 6th July 2012
FIREFIGHTERS will strike for one hour tomorrow.
The second in a series of strikes across Essex will take place between 4am and 5am.
Members of the Fire Brigades’ Union and Essex Fire and Rescue Service met with Acas yesterday to try and find some common ground but talks were adjourned without any agreement being reached.
FBU representative Keith Hanscomb said: “From the union’s perspective, we had some useful exploratory discussions with Acas people.
“However no substantive progress was made on the issues in dispute.
“We have adjourned and are now awaiting suggestions from Acas for us to consider about possible ways forward for further exploratory talks.
“In the meantime the frontline cuts and imposed changes continue to be implemented and so the dispute remains very much alive.”
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Gary Fleming urged residents to test smoke alarms before the strike goes ahead and said they will be able to cope.
He said: “ECFRS has strong resilience arrangements in place and the public should continue to dial 999 in an emergency.”
The Olympic torch relay will not be affected.
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