Pay the firefighters
by Andy Gilchrist, General Secretary, FBU

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Bush and Blair's nuclear hyporcisy
Vice Chair of CND Kate Hudson on the illegality and hypocrisy of the US and UK's nuclear policies

Defend the Good Friday Agreement
Mitchel McLaughlin MLA on how to deal with the current crisis

Beginning of end for euro?
The Stability and Growth Pact should be abandoned, argues Kelvin Hopkins MP

The big PFI mistake
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Blair's 'post comprehensive era'
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Unions and CLPs must unite to defeat
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CWU General Secretary Billy Hayes attacks state funding for guaranteeing funds regardless of popularity or policy

Reclaiming the party
Following this year's party conference, John McDonnell MP calls on Labour activists to join in the campaign to reclaim the party

As I write, negotiations are tak-ing place between my union and the National Fire Service Employers over our pay claim. The FBU has always argued that this is the correct and proper mechanism for dealing with pay. To facilitate this process the Executive Council decided to suspend the strike action called for 29-31 October and 2-4 November.

Much is made of the fact that our claim is for a 40 per cent increase. This needs to be put in context. We have not raised the issue of reviewing our pay for 25 years. The job has become increasingly complex — we are classified as ‘professionals’. We do not however receive professional pay.

A fully qualified firefighter is paid around £100 per week less than average male earnings. They earn £21,000 after 5 years; £24,000 for a leading firefighter after 15 years.

We have independent evidence not only to support our claim, but also how it will be self-funding in the long term. Our productivity is very good — the Audit Commission, the government’s own watchdog, has acknowledged this.

In England and Wales between 1981 and 1999, there was a 78 per cent increase in calls and 2.5 per cent fewer firefighters in post.

Over that same period, there was a 99 per cent increase in special service calls. These are non-fire incidents but they are still dangerous — car crashes, rail crashes, chemical spillages and leakages and floods

Firefighting is not simply putting out fires — a modern fire service is multi-skilled. This pattern is the same in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

It is most unhelpful that our employers have stated publicly ‘many situations faced by firefighters are hazardous, but the risk of death and injury is lower than for some other hazardous occupations, for example construction, trawler fishing and agriculture.’

Every death of every worker is a tragedy. FBU members who deal with tragedy as part of their job will never diminish any death. The point is surely that firefighters put their lives on the line routinely in the line of duty and voluntarily. In the last decade, firefighters have died as a result of arson and as a result of effecting rescues other than from fire as well as searching for missing persons. Firefighters are now routinely attacked when attending incidents in some of our inner cities. Had the FBU not fought so hard on health and safety issues the toll of deaths of our members would be much higher.

After any major disaster — for example at Clapham, Paddington or Kings Cross — praise is heaped upon us. Praise for our bravery, our compassion, our determination to save lives. We are awarded posthumous medals.

All we ask is respect for what we do and a fair wage for firefighters and emergency fire control operators.

The employers say that they want ‘modernisation’. So does the FBU in order that our members and the public can be ever better protected. We want more investment, better equipment and improved training in the service.

The reality of fire service workers' jobs is not just that there is a risk to themselves and others but that in almost all we do there is a potential risk. We are not simply worth a pay rise because of the dangerous element of our job but because of the effort we put in daily through fire prevention work to make the public buildings and the public transport which we all use, as well as our homes, safe.

We have spent the last five months trying to negotiate a decent wage for the people who protect our lives and property. Members the length and breadth of the UK are fed up with being fobbed off.

Your Fire Service is always there for you; now we need your support.

If you require any information about our pay campaign please contact FBU head office on
020 8541 1765 or visit our web site at www.fbu.org.uk