Chief calls for national inquiry.

MERSEY fire chief Malcolm Saunders today called for a national inquiry to prevent firefighters walking off the job again with no cover in place.

He said: "There are serious issues of unlawful action being taken and leaving no cover whatsoever.

"I know of no other situation in which that has occurred in the UK. It is unique in my career and raises serious questions about the industrial relations in the fire service as a whole in Britain.

"I don't think anyone thought we would get firefighters walking out without a ballot or cover.

"National authorities must see what can be done to prevent it happening again."

He said the investigation into the firefighter accused of running a website containing obscene, racist and sexist material could take months.

Meanwhile, Merseyside Fire Brigades Union branch secretary Les Skarratts said the likelihood of further lightning action depends on assurances from the Fire Authority.

"If they can give us a guarantee that no other member who took part in the strike will face recrimination then there will be no need to take industrial action or a walk-out."

He said yesterday's action did provide one glimmer of hope: "We resolved this very quickly through dialogue with elected members which gives us optimism. It is a pity the management didn't talk to us at first because we could have stopped this before the members had to defend themselves again."

CAPTION(S):

QUESTIONS: Malcolm Saunders

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Publication:	Liverpool Echo (Liverpool, England)
Date:	Sep 11, 2001
Words:	238
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