NEW LABOUR is determined to push through 'modernisation' of the fire service by imposing a pay deal already repeatedly rejected by firefighters.
The strategy of the FBU leadership is now in tatters. Instead of escalating strike action against the increasingly hard line John Prescott, they have called off action time and time again in favour of talks. One negotiator described the way the dispute has been handled as; We have talked more than we have walked."
When the fire dispute began, the mood was one of combativity and optimism, now that mood has turned to anger against its own leadership.
At the firefighters conference at the beginning of April, union leaders drove through an acceptance of a four per cert pay offer, already rejected. linked to cuts moos and condicions.
Since that vote was zer. me govertment and oca umort ecome more conident. and have proudly announced the negotiations are over. Now they intend to push through the package of cuts they call 'modernisation.
The Local Government Association issued a statement at the end of April saying; 'For far too long, the unions have held the service to ransom...trying to get involved in some issues of modernisation that really have nothing to do with them."
These issues directly affect firefighters, and the service they provide. The employers want to introduce joint control rooms, pioneered by the military during the few days firefighters did strike.
They would like fire, police and ambulance control rooms merged to cut jobs and save money. They also want to change shift patterns and reduce the total number of
firefighters.
The FBU executive is due to meet on May 12 to discuss final acceptance of the Burchill proposals, linking the 4 per cent to cuts. Not much time is now left for firefighters to campaign for rejection of this sell-out. But the firefighters have a recent history of mass lobbies and demonstrations. All resources should be directed now at the FBU leadership.
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Istance May 2003 5
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