Striking Firemen Continue to Protect Public
wefes | 14.11.2002 15:42
These guys are fantastic; fighting for a decent level of pay, and they're still able to act in an emergency.
Deptford, south London, about 2pm. I went to a nearby fire station just to see what was happening and to offer any help and support I could. When I got there, the picket lines were deserted, although all the usual paraphernailia was in place (posters, heaters, tea, &c).
This puzzled me at first but then it became a bit clearer; I cant say for sure what had happened for there was nobody available to talk to, except to report that all the picketing firemen were attending some kind of accident which had occurred just along the road.
Do not believe the lies and propaganda; it is not true that firemen are making greedy demands and putting the public at risk. They are dedicated professionals who deserve a 100% pay rise in my opinion.
This puzzled me at first but then it became a bit clearer; I cant say for sure what had happened for there was nobody available to talk to, except to report that all the picketing firemen were attending some kind of accident which had occurred just along the road.
Do not believe the lies and propaganda; it is not true that firemen are making greedy demands and putting the public at risk. They are dedicated professionals who deserve a 100% pay rise in my opinion.
wefes
Comments
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that's nice but..
14.11.2002 16:52
It's a really difficult situation for emergency workers because they know that people will die if they strike. And the government knows this too and can exploit it to make the strikes ineffective.
I think the firefighters have to use the argument that the government is the employer so is responsible for both the conditions of the workers and ensuring that the job gets done. If the workers do not feel that their conditions are satisfactory, then it is not their responsibility to continue doing their jobs.
If it gets to the point that their job is intolerable then they quit. And then who is to blame when the job doesn't get done? The strike is a moderate version of quitting.
I just hope this strike isn't a repeat of the last firefighters' strike - which was long and failed.
jp
support the firefighters
15.11.2002 10:12
union dinosaur
Homepage:
http://www.fbu.org.uk/pay2002/pay2002main.html
its up to workers to decide their own tactic
15.11.2002 10:17
gythuk
40 per cent is too big a pay demand!
15.11.2002 23:13
Even an extreme left wing government would refuse the firefighters on this. Remember the Kronstadt rebellion when a similar crisis faced the Bolshiviks in Russia!
Harlequin
o no, not KRONSTADT again
16.11.2002 14:04
in truth, the basis of the firemens demands is that the PARLIAMENT gave themselves precisely a payrise of similar magnitude; anyway, even if they never get it, the firemen are following a good anarchist principle (so i understand, for im more of a marxist myself) of "Be realistic: demand the impossible". whats wrong with that ?
gythuk
Sparty twat
16.11.2002 16:19
What's wrong, you arrogant little sparty twat, is that innocent people will die and be maimed as a consequence...
Reality Check
Abuse
16.11.2002 19:29
gtr
Psychological war against the firefighters
17.11.2002 17:11
17/11/02
Ref UK Fire-fighters Dispute
Is the government waging a psychological war against the fire-fighters?Is it not time they stopped insulting good people and practiced what they preached.I presume that Mr Mandelson and Mr Prescott will be taking a wage cut to £6.50 per hour as it appears to be so reasonable.Is the New Labour Project little more than a party from which public sector workers are excluded.In which grandiose schemes are launched minute by minute and dross feed to the masses.Perhaps they could go and rest on their dented shields till they recover.Too much chatter is said to affect the brain.
Patrick
Patrick