THE airport firefighters’ pay deal puts Guernsey at risk of widespread industrial action, according to a former member of the States’ negotiating body.

Deputy Tony Spruce (pictured) said it had also caused serious conflict among States members and was costing islanders a small fortune.

‘If this [18%] increase is proven to be factual, then the airport firefighters have leapfrogged the Town fire service and prison staff and they’re not going to take it lying down,’ he said.

Deputy Spruce, a member of Public Services, was vice-chairman of the Public Sector Remuneration Committee that resigned in the wake of the airport firefighters’ industrial action in May.

He said the ‘secret’ deal was likely to affect 50 people, not just the 30 firefighters, because it would also apply to officers within the airport fire service who wished to maintain their pay differential and 10 people in Alderney.

There were also ‘huge’ implications for the States pension scheme.

The PSD board had not been involved in the negotiations and the public had a right to know what had been agreed, he said.