FIREFIGHTERS in Woodford are expected to give their backing to possible strike action next month over pay and bank holiday working.

Ballot papers have been sent to all stations by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) after talks with employers broke down and if firefighters support their union, action could start as early as September 7.

Last year's fire dispute was eventually settled with a two-stage pay offer amounting to 7.7 per cent over two years but this has yet to be implemented.

At Woodford fire station, FBU representative Ronnie Waite said that his members were '100 per cent' behind the union.

He said: "It's strange because we have already agreed everything they have asked for and they still wouldn't sign an agreement."

The Local Government Association (LGA) has been negotiating with the FBU on behalf of employers but its chief negotiator was sacked last week after a deal agreed by the executive was voted down by LGA members.

According to the LGA it was happy to implement stage two of the pay agreement if the FBU agreed to alter conditions of work on public holidays.

Mr Waite said: "There's some confusion among firefighters. Some think it's purely about whether we work normally during public holidays but the reason we are balloting is purely over getting the 3.5 per cent and 4.2 per cent back dated as originally agreed."

Despite Mr Waite's confidence that firefighters in Woodford will back their union in a ballot, he still does not believe that a strike will necessarily result.

He said: "If we get a yes vote the employers will come and talk to us but if we don't get a yes vote they will roll right over us."