At Euston fire station, one of London's busiest branches, firemen anxiously waited yesterday for their first emergencies.
Nick Hurwood, who has worked at the station for 23 years, said: 'We don't want to be here. No one likes sitting on the picket line. We're supposed to be out there in the streets of London taking care of emergencies. We are looking forward to doing our job again and serving the public.'
His colleague, Ian Carlo, 35, said: 'We're determined to stick by this strike. Our resolve is stronger now than it ever has been. The experience seems to be bringing us closer together as a team. We're just not willing to be pushed around by the Government like this. We're being portrayed by them as militants. We can't just keep our heads low and take it.'
Chris Ray, 21, a new recruit on his first day as a fireman, said he was frustrated by the strike. 'I've spent 18 weeks training and it's difficult being on strike when I know I should be out there helping people. I knew a strike was coming. So I think we have to all stick together and see this through to the end. There's a lot of public support for the firemen.'
Across the country, firemen were digging in for another strike. At Leeds Central, station officer Mick Wood said: 'We are hoping something can be sorted out in the next four days but it doesn't seem likely. It sounds as if we are no nearer an agreement than we were at the beginning of the strike, largely because the Government cannot find what is effectively an absolute pittance.'
Negotiations ended without agreement on Friday after employers failed to table a new pay offer and relations between the Fire Brigades Union and the Government seemed to sour further. Andy Gilchrist, the union leader, launched a blistering attack on the Government yesterday. Speaking at the Socialist Campaign Group rally in central Manchester, he said: 'It's disgraceful to say that for people in this country who are prepared to risk their lives to save others you can't find any extra money but you can find at least a billion to bomb innocent men, women and children in Iraq in a futile effort to bomb them into democracy.'
In Belfast, the station officer at Ormeau Avenue, Michael Neeson, said: 'It's about public safety and firefighters' safety. Less people means less engines and that will cost lives.'
In Newcastle upon Tyne, an elderly man died yesterday in a house fire, a few hours before firefighters went back to work. Three units - a Green Goddess, a red engine and a breathing apparatus response team - were sent to the house. Some of the strikers broke their own picket line to help the military at the scene.
