28/05/2003

West Tyrone MP meets FBU chief

West Tyrone MP, Pat Doherty has met with Fire Brigade Union chief, Andy Gilchrist to discuss the recent pay dispute which looks set to be resolved in Scotland next month.

Speaking after his meeting, Mr Doherty said Sinn Fein was looking to the FBU to deal with other issues such as equality once the dispute was settled.

He added: "In particular, we are in opposition to legislation brought forward by Bairbre de Brun as health minister that would have opened up the eligibility criteria for the post of Chief Fire Officer by allowing suitably qualified and experiences applicants not trained in Britain."

However, it was the recent deal between the Government and Fire Service which Mr Doherty and Mr Gilchrist centred on. The new deal will give qualified firefighters a 16% pay rise by July 1, 2004. This will take their basic salary to £25,000-a-year.

If accepted firefighters will get an additional 4% pay hike backdated to November 2002, and two more phased pay rises amounting to 12% by mid-2004.

Mr Doherty said he welcomed the fact that an agreement was seemingly within reach and hoped if would pave the way for future issues, such as equality, to be settled.

(MB)

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