Two Black Country firemen sacked after conducting a "spoof" interview with a colleague were today given their jobs back.
West Midlands Fire Service said Mark Smith and Lee Evans had been re-employed after talks with the Fire Brigades Union prior to an employment tribunal hearing in Birmingham.
A Fire Service spokesman said: "All parties are satisfied that the matter is now resolved."
Mr Smith, 42, and Mr Evans, 44, were sacked in July last year after a new colleague was subjected to a spoof interview, which was filmed.
The long-standing officers, based at Brierley Hill, Dudley, lost an appeal against the sacking and decided to take the case to tribunal.
In a joint statement issued after two days of negotiation, West Midlands Fire Service and the Fire Brigades Union said they were pleased to confirm that an amicable and mutually acceptable agreement had been reached, leading to the re-employment of the men.
The statement read: "All parties are satisfied that the matter is now resolved and they can look forward to continuing to work together in the future, developing and delivering a professional service to the community.
"There will be no further comment on this matter."
An earlier statement from the FBU described the sackings as "excessive and unwarranted".
The union said the new colleague had not complained about the incident and a poll found an overwhelming majority of fellow firefighters believed the men did not deserve to be sacked.
The statement read: "Watch Commander Mark Smith and temporary Crew Commander Lee Evans were involved in a spoof 'interview' during which one of the officers purported to be of senior officer rank. The 'interview' was filmed on camcorders.
"The new colleague, who was subject of the spoof, was not offended, made no complaint and asked, when realising it had been recorded, if it was possible to have a copy made to show friends and family.
"It was only when a DVD of the 'interview' was produced that the two officers were disciplined and sacked for 'bullying and harassment' by West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service management.
"Mark Smith had served in the fire service for 23 years and Lee Evans for 10 years."
Rosemarie Jones, West Midlands FBU brigade secretary, said: "This was a bit of harmless workplace humour which offended no-one. The sackings of Mark and Lee have caused outrage among their colleagues.
"There was no complaint from anyone involved and we feel the whole episode has been blown out of all proportion by heavy-handed managers. If there had been a case of genuine bullying, harassment or victimisation, we would not have taken the supportive stance that we have.
"On the contrary, the sacking of Mark and Lee undermines and belittles genuine cases of bullying and harassment which have no place in the fire service. The only victims here are two firefighters who have served their communities with distinction and pride for many years and have now been sacked. The only offence has been the outrage caused by the excessive punishment meted out and we believe both Mark and Lee should be reinstated."
