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In an attempt to head off prolonged nationwide strikes by the Fire Brigades Union, and possibly even avoid an eight-day strike set to begin tomorrow (see WIT for Nov. 13, 2002), representatives of Britain’s local government employers are considering and offer to firefighters of a sixteen percent raise over two years. While the FBU wants immediate raises instead of the phased-in raise being considered and opposes many of the sweeping work rules changes tied to the new offer, the union has indicated that a sixteen percent raise would be a strong starting point, and that it would be willing to consider minor work rule changes. In considering the new offer, key local government employers have gone around Prime Minister Tony Blair’s national government---which has taken a combative stance on the firefighter’s demands, and insists that there will be no funding for raises above their initial eleven percent offer contingent on changes in work rules.