FIRE bosses have asked Merseyside union officials to explain how to avoid threatened strike action.
The two sides met on Wednesday to discuss the pending industrial action, which was voted for by 65% of Fire Brigades Union members this week.
The union outlined three steps which would avoid a walk-out of crews across the region.
They want Mersey-side fire authority to review its decision not to uphold the appeal of sacked firefighter Kevin Hughes, describing the vote as “split”.
If no common ground is reached, firefighters are set to launch a “discontinuous” strike as soon as mid-October.
The dispute began after FBU member Mr Hughes was sacked for alleged gross misconduct.
He was investigated over an alleged assault on a senior officer’s son, but no police charges were ever brought.
On Wednesday, Merseyside FBU called for the disciplinary charges against Mr Hughes to be dropped, his reinstatement, and for fire bosses to accept “key failings in the disciplinary procedure”.
