World's biggest union backs FBU in pay fight

Submitted by on 17 October, 2002 - 8:28

The German trade union representing fire service workers, Verdi, has put out a statement, in English, backing the FBU in their campaign for better pay.

The letter, from the secretary and chair of the national fire brigade grouping in the world's biggest union, says Firefighters give the citizens the most comprehensive and most professional service for their safety. Politicians particulary praise on celebrations the fire brigade, but if it comes to payment, who do the job - the firefighters - , then they tend to forget all about it.
The letter can also be downloaded (in PDF format) here:
http://www.labournet.de/internationales/gb/FBU.pdf

To FBU Members
Fire Brigades Union
United Kingdom

Dear colleagues,

the fire-brigade group in ver.di, the largest trade union for firefighters in Germany,
totally supports your demands for better payment, better qualification, better working
conditions.

Firefighters give the citizens the most comprehensive and most professional service
for their safety.

Politicians particulary praise on celebrations the fire brigade, but if it comes to pay-ment, who do the job - the firefighters - , then they tend to forget all about it.
Professionalism, experience, motivation and the unquestioned readiness to risk ones
own life and „to run towards the place, everyone else is running away from", this you
cannot get for free.

Without acknowledgement, also financially, it will be hard to find any aspirants and
the job of a firefighter will not be attractive anymore:

So, by fighting for better working conditions, you implicitly fight for the safety of the
people.

With large indignation we have got to learn that in case of strike the Armed Forces
will get order to replace the firefighters. Who worries about ones, has to support your
actions and your demands, instead of coping with blacklegs.

Good luck for your fight. You can be sure of our support.

In solidarity
Fire-brigade group in ver.di
Sigrid Müller, Secretary
Hans Häusler, Chairman

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