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21/01/2003
Firefighters return to picket lines for 24-hour strike
Tens of thousands of firefighters across the UK stopped work this morning to begin the latest 24-hour strike as part of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) ongoing dispute over pay.
Almost 2,000 firefighters in Northern Ireland started the strike at 9am this morning, which is the union’s third stoppage in just over two months.
Speaking today FBU General Secretary Andy Gilchrist said: “None of our members wants to be on strike today, but when our employers refuse to talk to us unless we agree to their unreasonable preconditions we are left with no other option.
“The government and the National Fire Service Employers must listen to the public and get back round the negotiating table. All we are asking for is our employers to be reasonable by dropping their preconditions so that we can settle this dispute.”
Today’s strike was attacked by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott in the House of Commons, who said that strikes "cannot and will not achieve anything". He further urged the firefighters and emergency fire control staff to "get back to the talks at Acas”.
Mr Prescott added that the walkouts “put the public at unnecessary risk", and that its action threatened public safety.
According to the Ministry of Defence the 32 Yellow Goddesses used in the last strike, in November, were ready to go into action, codenamed Operation Fresco, across the province.
Northern Ireland FBU representative Jim Barbour said the industrial action could have been avoided.
"I am absolutely certain that if the talks were between Acas and ourselves and the national employers, without interference from the government, a deal would have already have been struck and there wouldn't be strike action this week," he said.
Mr Prescott insisted that the Bain Report into the fire service, which recommended an 11% pay rise over two years linked to modernisation, gave the framework for a deal.
But the union said that normal negotiations were being ruled out because of “outrageous preconditions” being set by fire authority employers, including commitment to the Bain proposals.
These include, Mr Gilchrist said, proposals for 2% year-on-year job cuts over the next four years, changes to the pension scheme and fewer firefighters at night, when the risk of death and injury to the public is highest.
Tuesday's strike is due to be followed by two further 48-hour stoppages on 28 January and 1 February.
As of midday today police report that 18 emergency calls were received, of which one was a hoax, eight were genuine calls with six Yellow Goddesses deployed.
(AMcE)
Almost 2,000 firefighters in Northern Ireland started the strike at 9am this morning, which is the union’s third stoppage in just over two months.
Speaking today FBU General Secretary Andy Gilchrist said: “None of our members wants to be on strike today, but when our employers refuse to talk to us unless we agree to their unreasonable preconditions we are left with no other option.
“The government and the National Fire Service Employers must listen to the public and get back round the negotiating table. All we are asking for is our employers to be reasonable by dropping their preconditions so that we can settle this dispute.”
Today’s strike was attacked by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott in the House of Commons, who said that strikes "cannot and will not achieve anything". He further urged the firefighters and emergency fire control staff to "get back to the talks at Acas”.
Mr Prescott added that the walkouts “put the public at unnecessary risk", and that its action threatened public safety.
According to the Ministry of Defence the 32 Yellow Goddesses used in the last strike, in November, were ready to go into action, codenamed Operation Fresco, across the province.
Northern Ireland FBU representative Jim Barbour said the industrial action could have been avoided.
"I am absolutely certain that if the talks were between Acas and ourselves and the national employers, without interference from the government, a deal would have already have been struck and there wouldn't be strike action this week," he said.
Mr Prescott insisted that the Bain Report into the fire service, which recommended an 11% pay rise over two years linked to modernisation, gave the framework for a deal.
But the union said that normal negotiations were being ruled out because of “outrageous preconditions” being set by fire authority employers, including commitment to the Bain proposals.
These include, Mr Gilchrist said, proposals for 2% year-on-year job cuts over the next four years, changes to the pension scheme and fewer firefighters at night, when the risk of death and injury to the public is highest.
Tuesday's strike is due to be followed by two further 48-hour stoppages on 28 January and 1 February.
As of midday today police report that 18 emergency calls were received, of which one was a hoax, eight were genuine calls with six Yellow Goddesses deployed.
(AMcE)
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