News from Trumpton
From BBCi today:
The Fire Brigades Union said it will ballot for strike action after talks to end a long-running pay dispute broke down without agreement on Monday.
Union leaders had met local authority employers to try to break the deadlock.
But they failed to reach a deal to settle what they say is a 3.5% rise outstanding since November, and a further 4.2% owed since 1 July.
The dispute flared up following a hitch to the agreement that ended a series of strikes in 2002 and 2003.
A deadlock over "stand-down time" during night shifts was broken during negotiations on Thursday.
That related to whether firefighters should have to undertake training or other duties while waiting for a call out.
There was some confusion surrounding the end of talks in central London.
The employers said they ended with the FBU rejecting an offer but the union said its members were still waiting to reconvene and discuss the issue.
Firefighters are taking action because they say that the pay agreement reached after last year's national strike has not been implemented.
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Polish those Green Goddesses!