Jeremy Dear, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, is urging members to support the Fire Brigades Union in its dispute - and check their offices are safe in case of emergencies during the forthcoming strike.

Letters have been sent to all workplace chapels and employers to ask that a fire risk assessment is held in every office, to ensure there is no additional risk on strike days.

Jeremy said: "This is a matter of urgency. Journalists will have reason to worry particularly if they work in high rise office blocks."

He said that companies should check fire equipment and conduct fire drills with complete evacuations of their offices, checking that everyone in the workplace - including casuals, freelances and visitors as well as staff - gets out safely.

Jeremy said: "We are not asking anybody to walk off the job.

"But we are reminding employers that they have a duty of care to their staffs, and we are reminding them and union members alike that under health and safety law employees are entitled not to work in a place assessed as unsafe.

"If companies cannot guarantee safety the union will support any member who refuses to work in an unsafe environment."

He also urged branches to support the Fire Brigades Union "in their campaign for a decent wage" by making a donation to the dispute fund, adopting a local fire station or writing to their MP and/or local fire authority.

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