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| Fire strikes halted after talks | Fire strikes halted after talks |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The latest strikes by South Yorkshire firefighters have been called off after breakthrough talks between fire managers and union officials. | The latest strikes by South Yorkshire firefighters have been called off after breakthrough talks between fire managers and union officials. |
| The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said it had called off industrial action over shift time changes after fire chiefs agreed to bring in mediators Acas. | The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said it had called off industrial action over shift time changes after fire chiefs agreed to bring in mediators Acas. |
| A strike due to begin at 1800 GMT has now been cancelled, along with further action planned for later in the month. | A strike due to begin at 1800 GMT has now been cancelled, along with further action planned for later in the month. |
| The FBU said a threat to dismiss crews over the row had been dropped. | The FBU said a threat to dismiss crews over the row had been dropped. |
| FBU regional secretary Ian Murray said: "The union pushed very hard to get to the talks today and that has paid off. | FBU regional secretary Ian Murray said: "The union pushed very hard to get to the talks today and that has paid off. |
| "There is a cessation of all industrial action, which will be finalised when Acas terms of reference have been agreed by both sides. | "There is a cessation of all industrial action, which will be finalised when Acas terms of reference have been agreed by both sides. |
| "South Yorkshire firefighters would like to thank the public for their unswerving support and understanding." | "South Yorkshire firefighters would like to thank the public for their unswerving support and understanding." |
| New proposal | |
| The decision to call off the latest strikes was made after a meeting between the FBU and the fire authority on Wednesday. | |
| The dispute broke out after 744 employees were threatened with the sack if they did not accept new employment contracts to work 12-hour day and night shifts. | |
| The fire authority wanted crews to work the new shifts in place of the current nine-hour days and 15-hour nights. | |
| But firefighters argued this would present families with a range of problems, including childcare arrangements. | |
| The FBU said it had put forward a proposal for crews to work 10-hour day shifts and 14-hour night shifts, which would have less of an impact on working parents and carers. | |
| It said the fire authority would be able to put forward their own shift proposals during the mediation process. |