Fire Brigade Strike for 96 hours

[bussnapperwm]

STRIKES: Fire Brigades Union announced 96-hours of strike action this weekend

PEOPLE are being urged to be extra careful this weekend during yet another Fire Brigades Union (FBU) strike.

The strike will last four days, starting on Friday and coming to an end on Tuesday, November 4.

Concerns have been raised about the industrial action dates covering the weekend prior to bonfire night, which historically is busy for fire services.

It also occurs during Halloween, which can also see high volumes of calls.

Peter Dartford, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Services chief fire officer, said: "It is disappointing to hear that the Fire Brigade Union has called another strike period, this time running for a total of 96 hours.

"This is the longest consecutive period of industrial action in the dispute so far.
"It is even more important that people take additional safety precautions.
"I would strongly urge people not to attend Bonfire Night parties at home – the majority of firework-related injuries happen at private events held by family or friends.
"Organised celebrations have to adhere to strict health and safety laws, so people attending them are far safer.
"I would, as always, like to reassure residents that we will once again have robust contingency plans in place and will continue to provide an emergency response to all life-threat situations.
"However, people must be aware that we may not be able to respond to every incident and I reiterate the importance of being vigilant during the strike periods."
The service has pledged to answer all 999 calls.
Marc Redford, Derbyshire FBU chairman, said: "We appreciate the support we receive from members of the public during our strike action periods.
"People must remember that our firefighters are also members of their own communities – we are not out to anger anybody by organising the strikes during these dates.
"Fire fighters provide a service 24 hours a day for 365 days a year, but people can't expect them to continue to do that while their pensions are in dispute."

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/STRIKES...tory-23649624-detail/story.html#ixzz3Hk7teQFg

I for one agree with their action as with the majority of strikes as when terms and conditions get even further eroded, and managers do what they want, it's no wonder that the workforce end up taking action.

 

[afyutr]

I don't get it. If a strike is designed to make people aware of the situation and convince the employer to take action, this sort of timing only often (IMO) serves to make everyone think the strikers are just a little bit selfish.

It only has the potential to end in a bad news (most likely Daily Mail) story for those on strike when someone gets hurt.

That's not to say their demands aren't reasonable; it's an opinion on the perception of their actions.

 

[bussnapperwm]

But isn't the point of holding a strike to hold it when it's a busy time to provide leverage against the employers.

Maximum disruption = maximum effect.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

But isn't the point of holding a strike to hold it when it's a busy time to provide leverage against the employers.

Maximum disruption = maximum effect.

I note, based on what you say above, they appear to have missed an opportunity for this, by not extending the strike action by one more day to 5th November

Maximum disruption = maximum effect...as you said.

 

[Amberley54]

But isn't the point of holding a strike to hold it when it's a busy time to provide leverage against the employers.

Maximum disruption = maximum effect.

Indeed. The FBU have repeatedly stated throughout this long-running dispute that in the case of a genuine emergency, their members will immediately leave the picket line and attend the incident.

However, this inconvenient fact is inevitably ignored by the media, including the BBC on its main news programme this evening - hardly a balanced report on the dispute.

 

[DelayRepay]

Indeed. The FBU have repeatedly stated throughout this long-running dispute that in the case of a genuine emergency, their members will immediately leave the picket line and attend the incident.

Can anyone tell me who the contingency fire fighters are? They don't call on the army to cover any more so who are the people who stand in for the firemen and what do they do with the rest of their time?

 

[Johnuk123]

Can anyone tell me who the contingency fire fighters are? They don't call on the army to cover any more so who are the people who stand in for the firemen and what do they do with the rest of their time?

Contractors trained to operate 27 fire engines and called CapitalGuard are responsible for London. Some other places have what are called ‘resilience contracts’ which means back office, part-time, managers and RFU members who won't strike. Some areas are simply hoping that strikers will return if needed and are providing no cover at all although it's legally required.

 

[Saint66]

Have FBU members agreed to return if a 'major' incident is declared?

Also, I noticed in Leeds last night before I jumped on the train that there was an appliance driving round the City with four people in who were wearing white shirts and looking very managerial like... Presumably they were acting as cover.

 

[Johnuk123]

Have FBU members agreed to return if a 'major' incident is declared?

I think they're going to judge each incident on its merits as one said yesterday on the tv some 'major incidents' are not major at all in his opinion.

 

[muz379]

Can anyone tell me who the contingency fire fighters are? They don't call on the army to cover any more so who are the people who stand in for the firemen and what do they do with the rest of their time?

In greater Manchester , the fire and rescue service has trained up people to take on the role of firefighters in line with their legal obligation to provide strike cover .They get paid a fixed amount every shift they do when the firefighters go on strike .

They operate 21 pumps during strikes and each station they operate from has an operational manager from the fire service with them deciding if they are going to respond or not . They basically only respond to anything life threatening .

In greater Manchester as far as I am aware there is an agreement with the FBU that if there is a serious incident that would require a more robust response or a specialist team like Hazmat then the striking firemen will leave their picket and return to work .

They also have people that have driving licenses entitling to drive large goods vehicles to drive the fire engines during the strikes but they are obviously not trained anywhere near to the standards of a normal response driver .

To start with when the strikes began the emergency cover was very poorly trained but as time has gone on they have conducted more and more training with them .
I know someone who works as one and he just has a normal job the rest of the time not working for the fire service