Fire Brigade union members launch grassroots group to challenge union hierarchy and their failed strategies


repost from labournet


FBU Members Launch Pressure Group in Bid to Reclaim Union
Report by Paul Embery
Published: 11/02/04

Following a meeting on Friday (6 Feb) in central London, a new organisation has been launched by rank and file members of the Fire Brigades Union, with the purpose of reclaiming their union.

The meeting, attended by FBU members from all over the UK, voted to support the setting-up of ‘Grassroots FBU’, which stresses that it is not a breakaway organisation, but aims to represent the views of firefighters and control staff throughout the UK who feel betrayed at the surrendering of the national pay campaign last year by the FBU leadership and wish to see a more democratic union.

Paul Embery, a member of the group’s steering committee, said, “It’s no secret that, for most members, the outcome of the pay dispute was bitterly disappointing. The leadership of our union managed to take a 9-1 mandate in favour of industrial action and turn it into a final settlement that can only be described as totally inadequate. Throughout the dispute, their strategy was deeply flawed.

“Aside from the issue of the derisory pay increase - which itself is yet to be honoured - the deal has led to the tearing-up of our conditions of service and paved the way for swingeing cuts in fire cover. Consequently, we need a union equal to the task of fighting those cuts. ‘Grassroots FBU’ is in favour of a different kind of leadership, but we also want to encourage a more active and better-organised membership.” The dispute, says Mr Embery, also highlighted a serious lack of democracy in the FBU. “Members feel that senior officials have become totally disconnected, and things at the top have become very cloak and dagger. We will fight to win this once proud union back for its members.”

As a reaction to the Government’s treatment of firefighters during the strike, several FBU brigade committees have submitted resolutions to the union’s annual conference in May, calling for the FBU to disaffiliate from Labour. Such resolutions are likely to command huge support amongst rank and file FBU members, coming as they do on the back of similar actions by members in the RMT and CWU who have also become disenchanted by the Government’s pro-big business, anti-trade union agenda.