management were very diligent in distributing copies of the letter of repudiation and stressed the unlawful, unofficial nature of the strike.
But most people recognised that Dave Ward (main negotiatior) and Billy Hayes (CWU General Secretary) were emphasising that management had provoked the strikes. SR: What is the mood now and how have management behaved since the return to work? PF: The mood is good because people know we won. There isn't much moaning about the loss of over a week's money.
Scabs are getting a lot of stick. During the strike they not only got free meals and use of the drinks machine, but some also worked an illegal amount of overtime. One in particular did 72 hours in one week!
Management are obviously annoyed they didn't get their way and are trying to clear the backlog at our expense - which means not offering much overtime and making sure we are on the job every second of our shift. parts of the country, furious that the miserly promise of a 7 per cent increase due in their November pay packets has been halved by the employers without even telling them, have started a work to rule. Two thirds of the country's 56 brigades have been taking action. Obviously a decision to only answer emergency calls in the fire service has a mere significant impact than similar action in other jobs.
Given the demoralisa. FAIR PAY tion that was felt in many
fire stations after official action petered out and a lousy settlement was imposed earlier in the year, this is a welcome tum-around. The FBU has given the employers a deadline of November 10 to pay the settlement in full otherwise they will start an official ballot for strike
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