We could soon be facing a national strike by firefighters.

If it goes ahead it'll be only the second national strike in the history of the service.

Twenty-nine year-old Kerry Baigent is one of the firefighters prepared to take action.

She and her colleagues are seeking a 39% pay rise, which sounds enormous.

Justified?

But Kerry argues that a big increase is needed to bring firefighters in line with other public sector workers.

Kerry: "We work 42 hours a week which isn't to be sniffed at"

"Most of my friends earn a great deal more money than I do," says Kerry.

Currently a fully qualified firefighter earns �21,531, with a rise of around �1,000 after 15 years of service.

A 39% rise would take that to �30,000 a year.

Out of date

Firefighters' pay is based on a formula established in 1977 after the first, and to date, only national strike.

At that time it was based on what a male manual worker would earn.

Kerry says that's out of date now.

"We work 42 hours a week which isn't to be sniffed at by any imagination and we work shifts which we don't get paid for.

"We work unsociable hours and weekends which again aren't taken into account in our pay formula."

Training

"We work from nine o'clock to six o'clock.

"We do physical education, we do training.

"We train for nearly three hours every day so that we can provide the standard that the public want and we go out into the community and we deliver fire safety advice.

"And I believe that it's justifiable for us to ask for an increase."

Put to the vote

The Fire Brigades' Union will vote on their pay demand at their conference later this month.

If the deal is backed by members, the union will take the claim to their employers in local government.

If it's rejected and no compromise can be worked out, then the firefighters' union will ballot for strike action.

Green Goddesses

The last firefighters strike lasted for nine weeks in the winter of 1977.

The army had to provide cover with its fire engines known as Green Goddesses.

Kerry's CV

Name: Kerry Baigent Based: Cambridge Age: 29 Years service: 9 Background: Father was a firefighter

The Local Government Employers' Organisation, which pays firefighters, is keen to avert such a crisis from happening again.

"We have had a relatively stable national industrial relations climate in the fire service for the last 25 years and that's something that's very important," says Charles Nolda of the Employers' Organisation.

"It is a service that the public values very much and you don't need me to spell out the consequences of that service being withdrawn."

Kerry and her colleagues don't want to strike either.

But they believe they should be paid the wage they feel they deserve.

The firefighters will hold their national conference from 14 May.

---

Student Guide

---

Kerry Baigent and her fellow firefighters are convinced that they deserve a pay rise.

The Fire Brigades' Union represents all firefighters and negotiates with their employers.

It is a democratic organisation as all the members vote before important decisions are made.

Find out more about the Fire Brigades' Union on its website.

Just think...

Kerry relies on her union to represent her in pay negotiations.

Kerry: "We work 42 hours a week which isn't to be sniffed at"

Why do you think trade unions have more effect than individuals working alone?

What do trade unions do?

There's a trade union for almost everyone who works.

Whether you are a shop assistant, a teacher, a hospital porter, a doctor, a printer, or a computer programmer, there is a union which will look after your interests.

Unions were illegal for a long time.

The first people who tried to join together to protect their rights came from Tolpuddle in Dorset.

They were found guilty and transported to Australia in 1834.

After that the law changed and unions took a strong role in negotiations for better wages and conditions.

When people join together, their voices are usually louder.

A trade union has more power, when speaking with one voice, than each individual member.

Collective bargaining, as it is known, brings power.

If each individual asks for a pay rise, it is easy for an employer to say no.

If they all get together, it's much harder to refuse.

This is just what the Tolpuddle Martyrs, as they came to be known, were trying to prove.

Today's unions still have the same role but many have broadened the services that they provide for their members.

Just think...

Find out who joins Unison, the UK's largest union.

How does it help its members?

What sort of services does it offer?

What campaigns does it run at the moment?

Running a campaign

Trade unions campaign for change.

The union websites show that these range from pay and conditions to wider political issues.

The Fire Brigades' Union is building a pay campaign.

It must make sure that all the members are on side.

It must persuade everyone that the claim is justified.

It must persuade the employer that the claim is fair.

The power of a union will help it to win.

If everyone who works in the field belongs to the union, it has much more power than a union which represents only a small part of an industry.

When a strike is threatened, being able to stop everything is a source of power.

Just think...

How does the Fire Brigades' Union build its campaign?

What sort of evidence does it use to persuade people?

How much power do you think it has?

One voice

Unions have an important role in national politics.

They campaign for improved working conditions and can affect laws about the rights of employees.

There are many unions so it is hard for them all to be present at such negotiations.

The Trades Union Congress or TUC represents almost all the unions.

It talks to government and the employers' organisation, the Confederation of British Industry, about improving pay and conditions.

Just think...

Have a look at TUC for students to find out more about the TUC.

Why do unions join the TUC?

How does the TUC support the work of the trade union movement?