AS a serving firefighter based at Malvern may I thank members of the public for their overwhelming support during last week's difficult 48-hour strike.

The decision to strike was not taken lightly by the staff here and was heart-rending for all concerned. I would like to reassure the community that if a life-threatening emergency arose in our area we would not hesitate in leaving the picket line to respond. Saving life is the main duty of all emergency services.

One of the main questions I get asked is "why a 40 per cent pay rise?"

Some time ago firefighters were moved out of the 'manual workers' category and put into the 'associate professional and technical' category. The average salary in this group is 35K and all we ask for is 30K. The fact this means a 40 per cent rise shows how far behind our wages had dropped with comparable workers.

The reason for the move into this new category is clear, our role has become more technical and we are professional. The job requires 17 weeks basic training and a 4-year probation before finally achieving qualified status and salary. This is then backed up by two hours continuation training every duty day, coupled with various development courses carried out at local and national training centres.

During my 14-year career in the service the roles and responsibilities of the firefighter have expanded and modernised enormously. In particular, we have embraced community fire safety, with all stations actively involved in teaching fire safety in the home to the county's primary school children.

We in the service are realists and realise the only way to get a 40 per cent pay rise is by becoming an MP and voting yourself one. But why just because we work in the public sector should we accept poor pay as the norm? Why should MPs, hospital administrators, chief executives, industry 'fat cats' and chief fire officers be the only ones deserving of 14 to 40 per cent pay rises?

I have worked quietly and conscientiously in the public sector for 18 years and think that it is time we started asking these questions and more, after all we live in a democratic and fair society don't we?

Saul Bolton, Players Avenue,

Malvern.