UNION chiefs have conceded some fire staff will lose their jobs if a two-year dispute with the brigade’s bosses is to end.

The Essex Fire Brigades Union has put forward a compromise deal, which it hopes will end the ongoing battle with Essex Fire Authority over the latter’s cost-cutting plans.

The union says it will agree to an unspecified number of redundancies in return for cutbacks at Canvey and Brentwood fire stations being postponed until March 2013.

Mick Rogers, union secretary, said: “This is a compromise deal for us but, if agreed, it will provide some protection to the front line of the service, which is what the public of Essex expect.

“We have the mandate from our members to sign the deal if it is agreed.”

David Johnson, chief fire officer of Essex Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are delighted we now have some constructive proposals to work with.

“We shall consider the proposed new terms once we have had a chance to read them in detail.”