Airport deal under wraps

NO DETAILS are being released of the agreement between Public Services and airport firefighters announced yesterday.

The travel plans of hundreds of people were disrupted over the last two weekends when fire cover dropped below minimum requirements for certain aircraft and the States is expected to face a bill of many thousands of pounds.

The parties are understood to have been locked in meetings for the last two days, after which a statement was released on behalf of industrial disputes officer Mick Fooks.

It did not say whether continuity of service had been secured or if union Unite's block on temporary firefighter cover being brought in had been lifted. Neither were any details of whether firefighters had agreed to cover shifts when watches fell short included.

Mr Fooks said the parties had agreed to work towards a solution which should resolve manning issues for the next three months, during which time negotiations would take place to resolve the broader issues. These include the total establishment, optimum working arrangements, duties to be undertaken, arrangements for working overtime and work practices.