FIREFIGHTERS in Swindon remain resolute should their union call a strike on Thursday in its continuing dispute over pay.

Speculation is rife that the next 24-hour industrial action could be shelved, either because of the prospect of war with Iraq or the Government threatening to ban walkouts.

But firefighter Shaun Dunham, Fire Brigades Union branch chairman at Westlea Fire Station, said his members are ready for strike action should they get the call.

"We are 100 per cent behind the union and we are prepared to go out of the door again," he said. "I can see why the Government wants to make this injunction, but what they don't realise is they've still got to hope 55,000 firefighters will abide by the ruling."

The Fire Brigades Union's executive is likely to recommend further strikes when it meets today, after rejecting a 16 per cent, three-year pay deal. That call would be rubber-stamped at a conference in Brighton tomorrow.

Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, however, is considering whether to seek a court injunction banning further walkouts.

With the impending war in Iraq, Army chiefs have said they hope the dispute gets settled to relieve the forces' burden of fire cover duty. Police chiefs also fear having to take officers from crime fighting to accompany Army Green Goddess engines at a time of high terror alert.

Leading firefighter Tim Elliott said: "I don't think you can expect 55,000 FBU members to just roll over.

"Strike action in a war would be a tough issue as we all believe in the cause."

Firefighter Andrew Mangnall said: "The Attorney General can ban industrial action during times of national emergency, but where does he stop are we to become a dictatorial state?

"We have been negotiating for over a year and it seems like the Government have pushed us back to an impasse.

"No doubt the press will lambast us and drag our name through the mud if we strike during a war.

"Firefighters are fighting for the survival of the best fire service in the world and it seems the Government wants to destroy it just to save money."

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