FIREFIGHTERS in East Lancashire are on the verge of a strike following moves to introduce controversial working conditions.

They are so incensed by changes in working practices they are ready to turn their backs on decades of industrial peace and walk out of their fire stations.

A union chief has warned that firefighters across Lancashire will support any national strike action over proposed changes in working conditions.

The National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades has suggested changes to conditions which would give individual local authorities powers to set staffing levels, rates of pay, holiday and overtime entitlements.

Lancashire fire authority chiefs have already cut millions of pounds from this year's budget, including proposals to axe part-time crews in Accrington, Leyland and Lancaster.

A final decision on the cuts is expected from Home Office inspectors within the next few weeks.

Lancashire Fire Brigades Union secretary Tony Harris said: "The amendments will radically worsen our conditions.

"We object to the proposal that fire authorities will be able to set staffing levels locally because it will be a free-for-all.

"Crews in Lancashire could potentially be working longer hours for less money than neighbouring authorities.

"We have rejected the employers' proposals and we've been put on notice that if they proceed to alter conditions the service will ballot nationally for strike action.

"We held our annual conference last week and there was unanimous support for the action.

"We have had relative industrial peace since the Second World War, but as far as we're concerned, local authorities can't provide an efficient fire service."

Chairman of Lancashire's Combined Fire Authority, County Coun Bob Clark, said any decision over strike action would be referred to the conciliation service ACAS.

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