Striking firefighters today vowed to step up their fight for better pay as they walked out for the fourth time.

The Fire Brigades' Union (FBU) called the 24-hour strike after talks with the Government over pay and modernisation broke down again.

Out on strike - firefighters from Southend's blue watch walk out Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

Barrie May, chairman of the FBU at Southend fire station in Sutton Road, said: "Yet again we are given no choice but to go on strike.

"We are going to stand up to the Government. We have more strikes planned and we are going to fight on until we get this resolved."

Sub-officer Mike Jones, branch secretary for the FBU at Canvey fire station, said: "We are despondent. We are all very depressed to be going back on strike and we feel we just cannot see a way out of this.

"In every dispute there has to be compromise but the Government refuses to give an inch. We are disgusted to be back in this situation again. We have all got families and we are falling behind."

He said the strike was no longer about pay, but keeping jobs and maintaining a first class fire service.

Army crews using Green Goddesses will be drafted in as cover.

Published Tuesday, January 21, 2003

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