Firefighters to strike

Submitted by on 13 November, 2002 - 2:34

A letter to all London FBU members from their Executive representative outlines the case for the FBU strike starting on Wednesday 13 November at 18:00. Read the full text here.

Please use the comments facility to post both comments and local reports.
12th November 2002
To: All London Members

Dear Brother/Sister

FBU REJECT EMPLOYERS' PAY OFFER
I have just returned from the meeting of the National Joint Council, where the Employers' Side finally made the offer on basic rates of pay that we have been waiting for.

Anybody who has read the press reports regarding the "position paper" prepared by George Bain will not be surprised at the offer that the employers made. It was as follows:

· An increase of 4% effective from 7th November if "the NJC agrees to engage seriously in the negotiating programme set out by the Bain review";

· A further increase of 7.3% of the overall pay bill from next November "subject to satisfactory completion of negotiations along the lines of the Bain Review's position paper";

· A new pay formula linking our pay to average increases in pay for the Associate Technical and Professional group of employees with effect from November 2004;

· For retained firefighters, parity in the hourly rate; an attendance fee of 75% of the hourly rate; a turn-out fee of 125% of the hourly rate; and a retaining fee of 10% of the appropriate wholetime salary;

· For Emergency Fire Control Staff, the employers' position remained as previously, with a commitment to consider further evidence provided by the FBU.

The Executive Council unanimously rejected the employers' offer, meaning that the strike due to commence at 6pm tomorrow (13th November) plus the further strikes announced for 22nd November, 4th December and 16th December will now take place.

The FBU are extremely disappointed that, having seriously engaged in negotiations for the past two weeks and having suspended 12 days of strike action to facilitate those negotiations, the employers were not able to increase the 4% offer that they had previously made, but in fact added strings to that offer.

It appears that some elements in the Government wish for confrontation rather than a resolution of the dispute. If that is their wish, our members are prepared for the fight.

When members are dealing with the public and media over the coming period, it is important that a number of points are made:

· We have not been offered 11% but 4% this year with strings (an increase in take home pay of £10 per week);

· We have always been in favour of true modernisation, such as Community Fire Safety;

· The Government has been requested by the Fire Service to provide £280m of additional funding to deal with terrorist incidents but has not responded;

· The FBU is in favour of family friendly policies such as job share. There are already four different duty systems in the Grey Book. Overtime working and Wholetime Retained will not assist firefighters to care for their families. Overtime working will lead to less recruitment (including less recruitment of women and ethnic minorities);

· Most fire deaths occur at night;

· George Bain's "position paper" wrecked the progress that had been made in two weeks of negotiations;

· The FBU have been reasonable and responsible in agreeing to lift 12 days of strike action in order to seek a negotiated settlement.

All branches should be meeting at 5pm tomorrow (13th November) ready to walk out together and picket at 6pm. Branch strike committees should be making plans for picket duties, campaigning, plans for feeding pickets etc.

The blame for the breakdown of talks and for the second national strike in the history of the UK Fire Service rests fairly and squarely with the Government, our employers and Sir George Bain. If they have calculated that our members do not have the stomach for a determined fight, they have badly miscalculated. We will walk out together at 6pm tomorrow and will not call off action until we have achieved professional pay for professional Firefighters and Emergency Fire Control Staff.

Best wishes
Yours fraternally

Mick Shaw
Executive Council Member for London
Fire Brigades' Union

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 13/11/2002 - 22:19

Have just been on the picket line at the Kilmarnock Fire Station, completely

closed, all firefighters on strike, all on the picket line (60).

Fairly good mood, although some feeling that there is no way Blair will give

in. Good response from passing motorists. There is a big rally of

firefighters in Glasgow's Kelvin Hall tomorrow afternoon.

Some fire stations in Glasgow aren't being picketed because one

had a brick through the window threatening to set it on fire after the

strike started. Managed to see one green goddess, called to a hoax call at

the local chippy, with a crew from Colchester barracks and a police escort

(presumably to direct them)! AP

Submitted by Janine on Thu, 14/11/2002 - 13:55

There was significant disruption on London Underground last night and this morning (Thursday) as drivers refused to drive trains on the grounds that to do so without fire service cover was unsafe. Only 10 out of 64 trains ran on the Piccadilly line, and the Waterloo & City shut completely. There was sporadic refusal to work among station staff too.

Well done to all the workers concerned, and to the reps and activists who did a good job of organising the refusal. The message from the union head offices about what to do was a little unclear, and left matters in the hands of local activists. So where the work was done to organise refusal, it has paid off.

It is important now that we consolidate this action, and make sure it is more widespread by the 8-day strike next week. And in the event of any disciplinary action, we must stand firm, and we expect our unions to stick to their promise to defend anyone who is victimised by calling a strike ballot.
e-mail: JBooth9192 at aol.com

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 15/11/2002 - 22:26

In reply to by Janine

Tube workers - mainly drivers - have taken a firm stand for safety during the Fire Brigades Union dispute, with disruption on nearly every line.

Top marks go to drivers on the Piccadilly line, where only ten out of 64 trains ran, with only a shuttle service west of Acton. More than half of Northern line trains were cancelled, and a clear majority of Edgware Road H&C drivers refused to drive, causing big delays and several station closures. The Waterloo & City closed completely.

The action was best when rank-and-file reps and activists got our act together to organise and prepare. The advice from union head offices was not clear enough to be effective on its own: the work had to be done at a local level. The postponement of the initial FBU strikes also slowed down our momentum, but that can pick up again now.

Track workers forced management into accepting strict rules that will make work run slowly - no hot work, one member of each gang to wait on the platform, no heavy equipment moved because escalators not used. It may be that P-way workers can force a total stoppage on safety grounds, but until then, their limited action will at least make track maintenance fall behind, which will affect the service as the strike goes on.

On stations, some staff refused to work. Although it was mainly limited to union reps and activists, we can spread this action if we stand firm and prepare well for next week's 8-day FBU strike.

No-one has been disciplined and no-one has lost pay. Some local managers may have tried to bully people, but in general, we have not been punished for the principled stand we have taken. LUL says that it respects our right to refuse to work on safety grounds, so let's hold them to their word. They know that they are vulnerable on safety issues.

Management know that they can not discipline over a hundred workers because they would not be able to run a railway. And they can not discipline some but not others. In any case, we have our unions' promise that if management lay a finger on any member, we will take industrial action to defend them.

Management's claims that the job is safe are spurious. They have not even done workplace risk assessments for specific stations! They can produce all the statistics they like about the percentage increase in risk during strikes, but the fact remains: the entire fire safety system on London Underground depends on the availability of the fire service. No fire service: no safe railway.

Ask yourself: In all conscience, can you take a trainload of passengers into the pipe with no fire service available? If you work on a station, can you direct passengers towards the trains knowing they are less safe than they should be? We think not.

Stand firm. We owe it to ourselves, our colleagues, the passengers and the firefighters.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 15/11/2002 - 22:27

In reply to by Janine

They turn out for us every time there is smoke in a tunnel, every time the panel goes off. They lost a comrade in the King's Cross fire. We can only work safely because the fire service is there.

Firefighters fully deserve the £30k they are claiming. When the press slammed us for our pay strikes this year, they said that other public sector workers - such as firefighters - were more deserving. We said: pay all public servants a decent wage!

Well, guess what? Now the FBU is actually taking strike action for their claim, the press has turned against them too. Firefighters are no longer prepared to accept the role of victim, of object of sympathy - and quite right too.

That old chestnut has come out that apparently the country 'can not afford' the FBU's pay claim. Funny, then, that it can afford 40% pay rises for MPs (and chief fire officers), handouts to the privatised nuclear industry, and any war that George W Bush wants Britain's backing for.

The Government has upped the stakes in this strike, allegedly blocking a 16% offer from the employers, and now talking of sending soldiers across picket lines to get the fire engines out, and even banning strikes. Blair has spelt out to us that this is a fight for the whole trade union movement. If he succeeds in beating the FBU, we will all suffer.

We should all rally to the support of the striking firefighters. Visit your local picket line. Get your union branch to 'twin' with the FBU at the local fire station. Collect money at work and donate it to the strike fund. Do whatever you can to help the firefighters win.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 15/11/2002 - 22:29

In reply to by Janine

Although not on this scale, Tube workers have used our right to refuse to work to successfully protect our safety before.

- Last year, H&C managers cut the frequency of trip***** testing during engineering works. A driver refused to take his train out, and management backed down.

- When the 'Inspector Sands' system failed at platform level at Oxford Circus, staff refused instructions to go down there with megaphones. Management had no choice but to fix the system.

- Earlier this year, P-way workers refused to work on a site on the southbound between Tottenham Hale and Blackhorse Road because of water ingress. Management had the water tested, and found e-coli in it.

- When LUL scrapped manual tipping out of trains before going into sidings, one Central line driver refused to comply with the new 'three PAs' rule and continued to tip out manually. Her actions were exonerated in tragic circumstances when a passenger was killed in the Liverpool Street sidings and the HMRI (better late than never) made LUL revert to the old system.

- When Supervisors at Elephant & Castle discovered that an engineer had reported suspected asbestos in the machine room, they shut the station. LUL - having ignored the issue for weeks - got it sorted overnight.

Submitted by Daniel_Randall on Fri, 15/11/2002 - 16:03

The atmosphere was good at West Bridgford, with a walk-out of around 35-40 fire fighters. Support from passing motorists was also brilliant - almost everyone responded to the 'pip if you support us sign.' A couple of guys from the local Unison branch also came down with their banner. I chatted with the FBU branch chairman, who reminded me that the firefighters' claim was calculated to be justified by the independent labour reserach department, the same department which justified the 40% pay rise for MP's, which they got. Other local comrades have told me that the atmosphere at the other Nottingham stations they visisted was also very good.

Submitted by Pete on Sun, 17/11/2002 - 23:17

In reply to by Daniel_Randall

Thought people might be interested in what is being done in Nottingham

Pete
--------------------

TEXT OF STATEMENT BY TRADE UNIONISTS IN NOTTINGHAM

As trade union representatives and officials we wish to make clear to the public, our local MPs and the local authorities, our support for the FBU in their current dispute. In particular we are angry that the Government is trying to use the excuse that they can't pay the firefighters because it would be unfair on other public sector workers.
There is one major guilty party in this dispute and it is not the FBU.
The FBU have not taken strike action for 25 years for the same reason as many other public sector workers - they don't want the public to be inconvenienced or imperilled as a result of their actions, if they can possibly avoid it. As workers who daily risk their lives the firefighters’ commitment to the public interest cannot be questioned. It is unfortunate that the government is not similarly motivated.
The government could resolve this dispute at a stroke by such a measure as increasing taxation on very wealthy individuals and corporations.
The government ignores the wishes of public opinion that the firefighters be paid. In the face of such intransigence, the only way that direct strike action by firefighters could be avoided is by `secondary' or sympathetic action from others in the trade union movement. But anti-union laws, maintained by this government, prevent us from taking such action.
The government, it appears, is prepared to concede to their friends in big business and finance. Tony Blair concedes to his friend George Bush, the billions of pounds that are likely to be needed to fund the war on Iraq. But he is unprepared to fund the fire service, to give the firefighters a just wage and to allow them to continue to protect our communities.
If the government believes that it can pass the buck for causing this dispute onto the firefighters themselves and use it as an excuse to bring in further anti-union legislation then they are gravely mistaken. We will energetically make clear to our members and the public who the real wreckers are!
Signed
From the NUT
John Illingworth NUT National President 2001-2002 (in a personal capacity)
Brian Helliwell, Sec Notts Division
Louise Regan, Assistant Sec, Notts Division
Liam Conway Assistant Sec, Central Notts Association
Ivan Wels, Sec South Notts. Association

From UNISON
Jean Thorpe Chair Nottingham City Unison and National Executive Council member
Andy Birchenough, Convenor Notts County UNISON
Jos Cooper, Notts FE Colleges Convenor, UNISON
Catherine Mellors Sec Nottingham City Unison
Christina Sanna Service Conditions Officer Nottingham City Unison
Mick Moreton Assistant Sec Nottingham City Unison

From NATFHE
Russ Escritt, Midlands Region FTO
Linda MacDonald, Membership sec, NCN Natfhe
Pete Radcliff, Regional Committee
Julian Atkinson, Regional Committee

From PCS
Paul Williams, Secretary Nottm PCS DEO
Lorraine Harding, Organiser, Nottm PCS DEO

Submitted by Bruce on Fri, 15/11/2002 - 16:16

MANCHESTER RALLY FRI 15TH

About 250 firefighters, some with their families, and a relatively small

number of supporters attended a rally at Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester.

The mood was enthusiastic with horns blowing every time a speaker expressed

determination to win the strike and booing every time the name of the local

councillor in charge of the fire service was mentioned.

Bob Pounder, the Gtr Manchester FBU Brigade Secretary who was witchhunted in

yesterday's Sun for having visited Iraq, said he would be calling for the

FBU Regional Committee to call for a day of action during the next 8 day

strike to provide a rallying point for other trade unionists and the public

to show support for the firefighters. Once this call is official, trade

unionists across the region should begin to organise to make this day a

massive show of support.

Other trade unionists have already expressed their support including the CWU

Region, which has offered to put its facilities at the disposal of the FBU.

I taped some of the speeches and will write up a more detailed report for

Solidarity.

Submitted by Janine on Fri, 15/11/2002 - 20:01

This was a very big picket line on a very busy west end street (Shaftesbury Avenue). There was a long stall across the front with leaflets, merchandise and petitions, with a lot of passers-by stopping to sign. Lots of supportive hoots from motorists and waves from buses too.

Whilst saying that they were 'gutted' to find themselves on strike, some pickets expressed the view that they should have been out earlier, going ahead with the strike dates that were named initially. Strike, then talk, they said: then you negotiate from a position of strength.

Some of us who work at Charing Cross Underground station went to the picket line. Soho is the fire station that turns out whenever we have a fire alert at Charing Cross, which is pretty often! We had already contacted the FBU rep beforehand, and he had visited our station to talk to staff.

We will suggest at our next RMT branch that we 'twin' with this station, and perhaps with those at the north and south ends of the Bakerloo line too.

e-mail: JBooth9192 at aol.com

Submitted by Pete on Sun, 17/11/2002 - 23:19

What we've done in Notts

Pete

--------------------------------------

TEXT OF STATEMENT BY TRADE UNIONISTS IN NOTTINGHAM

As trade union representatives and officials we wish to make clear to the public, our local MPs and the local authorities, our support for the FBU in their current dispute. In particular we are angry that the Government is trying to use the excuse that they can't pay the firefighters because it would be unfair on other public sector workers.

There is one major guilty party in this dispute and it is not the FBU.

The FBU have not taken strike action for 25 years for the same reason as many other public sector workers - they don't want the public to be inconvenienced or imperilled as a result of their actions, if they can possibly avoid it. As workers who daily risk their lives the firefighters’ commitment to the public interest cannot be questioned. It is unfortunate that the government is not similarly motivated.

The government could resolve this dispute at a stroke by such a measure as increasing taxation on very wealthy individuals and corporations.

The government ignores the wishes of public opinion that the firefighters be paid. In the face of such intransigence, the only way that direct strike action by firefighters could be avoided is by `secondary' or sympathetic action from others in the trade union movement. But anti-union laws, maintained by this government, prevent us from taking such action.

The government, it appears, is prepared to concede to their friends in big business and finance. Tony Blair concedes to his friend George Bush, the billions of pounds that are likely to be needed to fund the war on Iraq. But he is unprepared to fund the fire service, to give the firefighters a just wage and to allow them to continue to protect our communities.

If the government believes that it can pass the buck for causing this dispute onto the firefighters themselves and use it as an excuse to bring in further anti-union legislation then they are gravely mistaken. We will energetically make clear to our members and the public who the real wreckers are!

Signed

From the NUT

John Illingworth NUT National President 2001-2002 (in a personal capacity)

Brian Helliwell, Sec Notts Division

Louise Regan, Assistant Sec, Notts Division

Liam Conway Assistant Sec, Central Notts Association

Ivan Wels, Sec South Notts. Association

From UNISON

Jean Thorpe Chair Nottingham City Unison and National Executive Council member

Andy Birchenough, Convenor Notts County UNISON

Jos Cooper, Notts FE Colleges Convenor, UNISON

Catherine Mellors Sec Nottingham City Unison

Christina Sanna Service Conditions Officer Nottingham City Unison

Mick Moreton Assistant Sec Nottingham City Unison

From NATFHE

Russ Escritt, Midlands Region FTO

Linda MacDonald, Membership sec, NCN Natfhe

Pete Radcliff, Regional Committee

Julian Atkinson, Regional Committee

From PCS

Paul Williams, Secretary Nottm PCS DEO

Lorraine Harding, Organiser, Nottm PCS DEO

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