TUC leaders expect to meet John Prescott today or tomorrow, after the government's threat to crush striking firefighters prompted calls for the resignation of the deputy prime minister and Tony Blair.
Senior labour movement figures were seeking last night to avert a crisis as Mr Prescott's tough line triggered widespread protests and risked a split between the unions and the Labour party hierarchy.
With another 48-hour fire strike due to start on Saturday after the latest stoppage ended at 9am today, a TUC "contact group" agreed to seek a resumption of negotiations and cool the growing anger.
Last night the Scottish executive set itself apart from Westminster when ministers effectively ruled out taking over direct control of the fire service in Scotland. In an emergency statement to MSPs, the deputy first minister, Jim Wallace, said that he did not envisage following Mr Prescott's example in bringing forward legislation.
The Scottish executive has said previously it wanted to see a UK-wide solution to the dispute, a view reiterated by Mr Wallace last night. However, pressure has been growing in some quarters for a separate Scottish deal, even though it would lead to the break-up of the national negotiating structure.
Downing Street spin doctors attempted to intensify pressure on the Fire Brigades Union by briefing that a ban on strikes had not been ruled out if British troops attacked Iraq. The attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, said he was keeping the seeking of an injunction to ban strikes "under review".
Dave Prentis, the general secretary of the Unison public services union, advised the government to "back off" and allow talks to resume. "Their carping from the sidelines, interfering and making threats, will only prolong the dispute."
The potential damage to union-government relations of Mr Prescott's threat to introduce emergency legislation, restoring a power axed 44 years ago allowing him to impose pay and conditions in the fire service, was emphasised by Mick Rix, head of the Aslef train drivers, who said Mr Blair and Mr Prescott should quit.
The TUC group will meet FBU general secretary Andy Gilchrist today before any talks with Mr Prescott.
