Firemen are offered a 2% rise ... but may reject it

tHE fire Brigades Union last night declared the public sector pay cap was dead in the water after it was offered a 2 per cent pay rise – which it is expected to turn down.

the 1 per cent cap on average pay rises in the public sector is supposed to run until 2020.

But last night it emerged that firemen have been offered double that, followed by a potential 3 per cent rise next year.

Downing street said the offer had been agreed by local authorities, not central government.

But it will be seen as a sign of the end of public sector pay restraint, which has been in place for seven years.

the fBU insisted the proposal was still unacceptable. General secretary Matt Wrack said the offer showed the 1 per cent pay cap was ‘dead in the water’.

He said: ‘ firefighters have endured seven years of pay restraint imposed by the Government.

‘their real wages are falling and our members are struggling to make ends meet. firefighters have, in addition, taken on many new roles that are not being recognised in their pay.

‘It is sickening to hear politicians praising firefighters for the outstanding work they do every day of their working lives only to be told they have to tighten their belts as a result of economic problems caused by bankers. this offer demonstrates that the 1 per cent cap is dead in the water but the offer from our employers is simply not enough.

‘It does not recognise the extra work firefighters have been doing, it fails to address their falling living standards and, despite hints

‘Struggling to make ends meet’

at improvements, does not make clear what they will be earning in future years. this offer lacks detail and credibility.’

firemen’s pay is not covered by a pay review body, unlike the situation in schools, hospitals and the Armed forces.

Instead it is subject to collec- tive bargaining through a national council representing the fire and rescue services.

A Government source said the offer had no bearing on the cap as it was not set by central government and would be funded from existing budgets.

A Downing street spokesman said: ‘ firefighters’ pay is a slightly separate issue from other parts of the public sector.

‘pay for firefighters is not set or agreed by central government and we don’t have a role in negotiations. What is happening there is an ongoing process of a pay settlement in which we don’t have a role.’

fBU members will now consider the offer and the union’s executive will meet later this month.