Fire Brigades Union:

The Fire Brigades Union is writing today to every Fire Authority telling them the union is balloting for industrial action. The move follows the wrecking of pay talks yesterday after the behind the scenes intervention of Minister Nick Raynsford.

The wrecking move was described by one senior employers’ representative as a “conspiracy”. The quote is contained in today’s Independent and is in line with the comments made by privately to the union by many councillors: “ ‘I very rarely subscribe to conspiracy theories, but this is no cock up, this is a conspiracy’.”.)

Bill Gillespie, Ulster Fire Authority chairman and another of those present said: "To be fair to the FBU they have played their part and met us half way." He added: "I'm particularly annoyed that nine out of the 13 people who voted against the deal I had never seen before at negotiations. It seems they were drafted in at the last minute."”

Dean Mills the Executive Council Member for the local area said “These councillors of long standing have confirmed what the FBU said yesterday. The talks were hijacked by a mob from London who are Raynsfords puppets. If they had the ability to think independantly they would see the corruption they are part of. Unfortunately thay don’t have the capacity to think at all let alone independantly.”

Mike Fordham FBU assistant General Secretary said “Their own side use the term conspiracy because that is what it was. They parachuted in councillors no one had ever seen before, none of whom had ever even sat on a fire authority.

“Many decent councillors are disgusted by what happened and are making their views very clear. The rest of the UK does not want to see a strike on their doorstep because of a seedy London conspiracy inspired by the ODPM.”

Dean Mills said “Raynsford is the Fagan of this scandal and his half witted cohorts are helping him rob the public and my members of the agreed and fair settlement. No wonder he has fled the Country now his scam has been exposed publicly”

“We reached a deal last week and it was Raynsford’s wrecking crew that stopped it. If they public want to know who wants a strike the answer is simple: Nick Raynsford.”

Ballot papers will be sent out next week. The ballot is expected to run through the rest of August.

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For further information contact

Dean Mills, mob 07956 502585, Regional Office on 01494 513034, email:deanmills@hotmail.com