THE handling of the firefighters' pay dispute has not been an object lesson in industrial relations.

Talks to reach a settlement ended in farce in the early hours of yesterday morning, leaving behind bitter recriminations which will not further hopes of resolution.

The farcical proportions of yesterday's fiasco were encouraged by the absence of Government ministers from the talks between the Fire Brigades Union and the local government employers.

For it is clear that the Government has the power to veto any agreement reached between the FBU and the employers, and John Prescott merely exercised that power.

It is time to bring the farce to an end, and time for the Government to get round the table with the FBU.

The employers may have their own idea about what constitutes a fair settlement. But it is the Government which will find the money to foot the bill, whether from central taxes or by sanctioning increases in council taxes.

What the deadlocked talks tell us is that a 16 per cent deal over two years is acceptable to the FBU. The sticking point appears to be over the scope of modernisation expected in return.

It is unrealistic for the FBU to expect an unconditional increase way above the rate of inflation. There have to be concessions which offer better value for money to the taxpayer, yet do not detract from the level of emergency cover.

Otherwise there will be a long queue of public sector unions banging on the door of the Treasury demanding "special treatment".

The strike went ahead yesterday more because of frayed tempers than any deadlock in the talks.

The gap in bargaining positions between the FBU and the Government is not vast. It can be spanned as soon as there is focus on the great amount of common ground that exists.

In the interests of public safety the FBU should suspend its industrial action and return to the negotiations. And the Government should join in the talks and stop using local authorities as its stooges.