A FIREFIGHTERS union chief who was suspended after criticising his national leader has been reinstated.
Bob Pounder, head of the Fire Brigades Union in Greater Manchester, was cleared to return to his job 24 hours before he was due to face a disciplinary hearing. Mr Pounder had sent a letter to his union's London headquarters saying it was "regrettable" his comments had offended some people.
The note led to action against him being dropped ahead of the union's council in London even though Mr Pounder did not apologise for the comments he made to a regional newspaper.
He had accused national leader Andy Gilchrist of "selling out" by agreeing to take the pay dispute to ACAS for arbitration. He says he stands by the comments.
After learning his letter had been accepted, he said: "The only time we should talk to the Government and the employers is when they have some money on the table to fund our pay claim."
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