Airport firefighters go to pay tribunal

AIRPORT firefighters and States negotiators are again at loggerheads as representatives look towards arbitration to resolve a new pay dispute.

The previous row, which began in 2009 and was eventually resolved in 2010, caused the airport to close as firefighters refused to cover sick colleagues.

It resulted in the States agreeing to a 7.8% pay rise – an inquiry was also launched into the incident to see why negotiations had failed.

This time, Unite regional officer Bob Lanning said emergency personnel were hoping to negotiate a 3.5% cost of living pay rise for 2012 – but he said Policy Council negotiators would not be swayed from the view that pay should be frozen.

The council would not divulge the details of the dispute when approached yesterday but confirmed both sides had agreed to arbitration
(from thisisguernsey)