FIREFIGHTERS throughout Greater Manchester are ready to discuss national strike action in the UK -- for the first time since 1977.

Next Monday, representatives from the region will join their colleagues and emergency fire control room operators from all over the country at a lobby of the Fire Service National Joint Council in London.

The lobby follows a resolution passed at the Fire Brigades Union's annual conference in May, calling for a £30,000 wage.

Union bosses have threatened to recall the annual conference in Manchester on September 12 if no progress is made.

Firefighters would then discuss national strike action.

Mick Headon, FBU regional treasurer, said: "The meeting on Monday is a final opportunity for our national employers to resolve the issue of fire service pay without the Fire Brigades Union having to recall its annual conference to discuss the issue of industrial action."

Currently, professional firefighters are paid £21,531 a year. and emergency fire control operators are paid 92 per cent of this rate.

However, fire employers have offered a way to resolve the current dispute. They propose a new, improved pay formula to be introduced from November.

It would, they say, result in a four per cent increase this year from the settlement date of November 7 -- among the highest in the public sector. Employers have also promised an independent inquiry into modernisation and pay. It follow's the FBU demand for a 40 to 50 per cent pay rise.

Charles Nolda of the Employers Organisation said: "We have put forward our proposals to resolve the situation. We think a joint approach for an independent review to look at both sides' arguments is the way forward.

"We do not believe that anyone would wish to strike thereby putting lives in jeopardy, when there is an opportunity for a fair and independent inquiry to resolve this issue. We hope that the FBU will now reconsider and withdraw their threat to strike."