THE secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in Greater Manchester has been suspended.

Bob Pounder recently criticised the national union leader Andy Gilchrist for cancelling the last strike in the pay dispute.

He described the decision to take the dispute to the conciliation service Acas as a "sell out".

The FBU has refused to comment on his suspension, saying it is an internal union matter.

If the complaint against Mr Pounder is upheld he could lose his job as a full-time union representative.

The union said he had now gone on leave until the start of 2003.