WEST MIDLANDS firefighter and Socialist Alliance vice chairperson, Steve Godward, has been suspended from duty by Brigade management, accused of gross industrial misconduct. He was suspended 45 minutes before the first 48 hour strike, and is recommended for dismissal.
The allegations against him concern equipment which was locked away for safety reasons before the strike with the agreement of the officer in charge and the station commander.
The issue behind it is that Steve is a militant firefighter and union activist who strongly supports the strike, and has a record of defending his members in the West Midlands.
This is a therefore a direct attack of the FBU by a management out to weaken the union and bring in their own "modernisation" proposals.
Since Steve has been suspended he has received strong support from firefighters in the West Midands, who have decided to ballot for strike action in the event of him being sacked. He has also received support from Brigades in other parts of the country.
Steve is appealing for the widest possible support in order to fight this victimisation, first within the FBU and also from the wider trade union movement.
This is a victimisation which has arisen directly out of the dispute itself and it is crucial that Steve is not left isolated. He must get full support from his union and full support from the wider movement.
Sellincourt Primary Schoo
for MORE DECENT Par
OFFICIAL** PICKET UNISON DECENT ISON 09% IN A M
radar." JOHN PRESCOTT, 14 November: "We have bent over backwards to be fair and reasonable." JOHN PRESCOTT, 21 November: "The negotiations are a matter for the employers and the unions." ADAM INGRAM, Fire Safety Minister; "(firefighters are) not fit to lace the boots of soldiers." JOHN PRESCOTT, Commons Nov 26: "20 percent of the fire brigades' owrk force is due to retire early, mainly for medical reasons. In those circumstances... it seems an obvious opportunity to discuss how you might deal with the more efficient utilisation of labour without redundancies or