Firefighters get another 'sweetener' just to work

FIREFIGHTERS have received extra money to guarantee cover at Guernsey Airport for three more months, it emerged yesterday.

None of the parties will say how much, or discuss an agreement announced on Tuesday between the Public Services Department and firefighters' union Unite.

The sum, however, is thought to be £1,000 per man.

Flybe general manager, market development Ian Taylor (pictured) said his airline's request for details had not been met and it was now pursuing the matter through legal channels.

'We have asked for a guarantee that category-six fire cover will be available now and in the future and there has been no such undertaking,' he said. 'If this is a temporary agreement, in three months we could be back to where we were.'

He said the situation was seriously damaging Guernsey's reputation on and off the island and if people lacked confidence in coming here, it was detrimental to the airline's business.

Representatives of the firefighters, Public Services, the Public Sector Remuneration Committee and an industrial relations team were locked in talks until late on Monday aimed at resolving the dispute, which seriously disrupted Guernsey Airport on two consecutive weekends.