A FIRE brigade's control room staff are ready to vote for strike action.
All but two members of the 25-strong workforce at fire brigade headquarters, Tees-side, have indicated to local Fire Brigades Union (FBU) leaders their willingness to vote to strike.
Firefighters across Teesside are being asked for their views on calling a strike ballot over controversial moves on sharing a control room with Cleveland Police and the ambulance service.
The two other services already share facilities and Cleveland Fire Brigade leaders want the brigade to move in with them, but the FBU fears the service and response times will suffer.
Local FBU secretary Keven Gelders said last night: "I need to know the decision of all the membership at the end of next week.
"I will then have consultations with our national executive and the FBU's legal advisors about the legal process.''
He said a strike ballot could follow six weeks later.
Mr Gelders said: "We hope that everyone in Cleveland will believe us when we say that we do not want this, but we feel we now have no other option if someone is to take notice.''
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