Catherwood LibraryILR School

Prime Minister Tony Blair and Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott of Britain faced a firestorm of criticism from the British labor movement today over Mr. Prescott's announcement yesterday of the government's intention to force a legislated settlement on striking firefighters. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) was quick to assure Mr. Blair and Mr. Prescott that the move was pointless as its members have no intention of accepting a settlement forced upon them---no empty threat considering that the legislation would not bar further strikes by the union. Condemnation of Mr. Blair's "New Labour" cabinet spread far beyond the FBU, however, as the leaders of major unions accused the government of anti-unionism and acting worse than Conservative governments of old, decried the legislation as an attempt to subvert collective bargaining, and even called for the resignations of Mr. Prescott and Mr. Blair.