FIRE Union chiefs in Dorset are meeting this week to decide if they will work to rule until a decision on strike action is made.

Following the break-down in pay negotiation talks between the Fire Brigade Union (FBU) and employers on Monday, 30 brigades across the country began an immediate protest by refusing to do any work other than 999 calls.

Now the Dorset branch of the union will be meeting on Thursday to see if its members wish to take similar action.

Dorset branch secretary Phil Hatchard explained: "Some brigades across the country have already decided just to answer emergency 999 calls - that effectively means work in the stations will be affected, there will be no training, no administration work.

"Public safety is of paramount concern to us, we are caring, committed professionals and we really do not want to go out on strike because we know safety will be put at risk.

"But as the government had the army and Green Goddesses on standby before Monday's talks it appears that a decision on our pay has already been made, and that's of great concern."

The FBU is calling for a 40 per cent rise to give qualified firefighters and emergency control staff a basic salary of £30,000.

But the fire employers' offer of a four per cent pay rise with a call to the government to hold a public inquiry into pay and modernisation of the fire service was turned down in the last-ditch talks.

Chairman of the Dorset Fire Authority and Local Government Association member Cllr David Fox said he was disappointed that the talks were not successful but hoped strike action could still be avoided.

He said: "Whether strike action is for nine hours, nine days or nine weeks the parties will still have to get together and talk so why not carry on talking without reverting to devastating strike action?"

Fire Brigade Union members will be balloted on strike action on September 12. The first and only national strike by the fire service took place 25 years ago.