Two-year deal, not pay, main issue - firefighter

SECURING a two-year deal was more important than the money, an airport firefighter has said.

On Wednesday, a tribunal awarded the men a 1.5% rise - half the inflation figure rise being sought.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the firefighter said the group was 'quite happy' with the result, as they had initially been offered nothing.

But the money, which takes their pay to £17.17 an hour, was not the primary aim of the tribunal, he said.

'What we wanted was a two-year deal to avoid going through the process of a tribunal or arbitration. We were disappointed to be in dispute and wanted to avoid future disputes. We are not aggrieved with the outcome, it is what it is.'

A two-year deal was 'never on the table', he said, and that was what they wanted desperately.