FIREFIGHTERS across Hereford and Worcester Fire Service could go on strike after feeling forced to sign new contracts requiring them to stay on shift longer for the same pay.

The trade union feel that the move to 'sack and offer re-engagement' to their members will see them offered inferior terms and conditions and station work hours increased from 35 to 42 hours.

Dozens of firefighters were 'very angry' following a meeting of the Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority on Wednesday which passed a motion that if an agreement isn't reached in the next two weeks that officers are authorised to proceed with crew changes in the 'most appropriate way forward'.

Discussions over future staffing levels have been taking place since August last year.

A motion was put forward on Wednesday to delay the decision for six weeks to allow the fire brigades union to conclude talks with the authority for a acceptable workable crew system.

This motion was rejected by the fire authority to the disgust of unionists and firefighters in attendance.

Barry Downey, regional Fire Brigades Union representative said he was 'extremely disappointed' by the decision and it appeared that the fire authority 'didn't want to listen' to their own members who proposed the delayed decision.

Prior to the meeting a letter handed out to the fire authority by the union stated: 'Whilst negotiations have been productive, a position which is acceptable to our members has not been reached.

'This would be a very drastic step to take in any circumstances but particularly so here where discussions have not been exhausted. There is no justification for this. Any further negotiations with the Fire Brigades Union would be hamstrung knowing that the service management will have been the ultimate ability to sack our members at any point.

'The changes to our member's contracts are not minor issues. There is the very real possibility of our members requiring the FBU to register a trade dispute and subsequently commencing a ballot for industrial action which is something all of us wish to avoid.'

Hereford and Worcester Chief fire officer Nathan Travis said that it was important discussions moved forward and he was 'really hopeful' they could still breach a deal in the next two weeks.

He added that currently crews are paid to work 42 hours a week of which 37 are done in the station and seven on call at home.

The change would see them work 42 hours at the station or community work- which he added would allow some crews to increase from four to five firefighters.

"This is a very fair and reasonable deal that means we can reinstate crews of five, where appropriate, at our full-time crewed fire stations – providing better resilience and more capacity through different ways of working, whilst keeping our costs within the challenging budget restrictions we face over the next few years," said Mr Travis.

“I appreciate we are asking staff to work differently, but we are also prepared to support them through a transition period and even invest any early savings into those support arrangements.”

The authority also decided on Wednesday to increase their precept by 2.98 per cent equivalent to a £2.37 increase per Band D property.