FBU leader Andy Gilchrist, speaking at the Campaign Group conference Manchester, has launched a remarkable attack on the government, saying that it had "ensured and provoked the strike - and arguing that it was time that the trade unions considered whether they would fund such a party.
Moreover, he went on to say that he would work to overthrow New Labour and was in favour of the creation of a new party to the left of New Labour:
"I am quite prepared to work to replace New Labour with what I am prepared to call "Real Labour".
His remarks come as the government undertakes a huge escalation of the strike. According to well-placed leaks to the media, the "modernisation" of the fire servIce is to be forced through by act of parlia ment, and strikes in the ure be banned. A white paper bringing the Bain Report into law is to be introduced early in the New Year, and rushed through parliament.
To ensure that there is no settlement before this new law comes into force, Nick Raynsford, the minister for the fire service, has told the employers' negotiating team to dig in and prepare for a long strike:
"I told them, don't rush to get a settlement, lt's important to get it right"
Asked whether the government was also prepared to hold out for months, he said "yes it could be months".
If there was any doubt that the gauntlet has been thrown down to the trade union movement in an attempt to stop a resurgence of industrial militancy in its tracks, that is now dispelled.
Andy Gilchrist's response to it. is absolutely right. Such a declaration to break with a Labour government by a trade union leader in the middle of a strike is unprece dented. It represents an extremely signifi cant shift of position by Gilchrist, who at this year's FBU conference opposed and rolled back moves that had begun towards the democratisation of the union's political fund.
It takes the issue of an alternative to new Labour onto a new level, It opens with the prospect that a new left -party might be formed with the backing of important sec tions of the trade union movement.
But it is also a challenge for the Socialist Alliance: it must continue to develop a principled programme and policies with a sufficiently broad appeal to win and retain the support of trade union leaders and activists, some of whom like Andy Gilchrist are moving to the left as a result of their bitter experiences with New Labour. Wiard Andy Gilchrist: a declaration of intent?