I AM writing as an active trade unionist in a union with members who work alongside firefighters, in order to express my support for the current strike of Fire Brigade Union members.

Given that a quarter of a century has passed since the last FBU national strike, and that several days of strike action have already been set aside in order to allow negotiations to take place in an attempt to resolve the current conflict, nobody can seriously accuse firefighters of rushing into this regrettable situation. Rather, they have been provoked into it by the New Labour Government, through a series of provocative acts.

Firstly, the Bain Report was leaked before it was officially presented to the FBU; secondly the four per cent offer with strings for this year is clearly less acceptable than the employers' four per cent offer in July without strings; thirdly the additional seven per cent for next year is not even guaranteed.

Firefighters deserve decent pay for the highly skilled, dangerous job they do. The Government should stop playing power politics with public sector unions and public safety and make the funds available to allow an honourable settlement of this dispute.

Roger Bannister

UNISON National Executive Council (Personal Capacity)

Kirkby