The PSRC holds a press conference during the firefighters' dispute at the airport. L-R Mike Collins, Drew Le Lievre, Roger Domaille,Tony Spruce and Al Brouard.

THE time is right to introduce a no strike clause for airport firefighters and to scrap the States pay body, according to an independent industrial relations expert.

Professor Frank Burchill was a consultant brought in by the Public Services Department to look principally at whether the way the airport fire station was staffed should change.

He contacted the Policy Council in the wake of the breakdown of pay negotiations with the firefighters, strike action and last-minute ministerial intervention to keep the airport open.

The resignations of the five members of the Public Sector Remuneration Committee, which is responsible for pay negotiation on behalf of the States, are on the agenda to be debated at the States meeting that begins today, while calls for an independent public inquiry intensify.

‘Given the position of the PSRC, the strike and “out of the hat” settlement were perfectly predictable,’ said Prof. Burchill.

‘What was not predictable was the resignation of the PSRC. This should be taken advantage of. Any inquiry should focus on the role of the PSRC in pay settlements in general and the firefighters in particular. The firefighters should not be the central focus. An inquiry should examine the need for the PSRC.’