TEACHERS will not be demanding a pay rise if the firefighters' demands are met by the Government, a union chief has pledged.
Barry Conway, who is secretary of the Bolton branch of the National Union of Teachers, claims Tony Blair is attempting to isolate the Fire Brigade Union (FBU) by arguing that other public service workers will make similar pay claims if the firefighters are successful.
The Prime Minister has claimed that workers such as nurses, paramedics, teachers and other local government employees might threaten industrial action if the FBU's pay demands are met. However, Mr Conway said: "This is just plain nonsense.
"I can't ever remember politicians complaining that the inflation-busting pay rises given to the police would open the floodgates to other public sector workers.
"We should all ignore what the politicians say about the firefighters and get behind them.
"Their job is dangerous, vitally necessary and performed with a commitment and humanity Blair, Brown, Prescott and the other hard-nosed MPs would find it hard to ever understand."
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