|  | Add your comment The Fire Brigades' Union is calling for a 40% pay rise and have rejected the 4% they have been offered. As the army and their Green Goddesses are mobilised, fears are growing in Beds, Herts and Bucks that emergency cover may not be sufficient. Should this action be allowed? Do they deserve 40 per cent? What's the answer? Have your say here. Read more about this story
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| Lee Bradbury, CMK | Friday 17
January, 2003 | | | Chad, you say the Firefighters are being selfish. Do you think they are selfish when they risk their lives to save people who, normally through their own stupidity or carelesness, are in need of urgent assistance? You ask what would happen if airlines, transport and other companies did the same thing; well I haven't met any transport service whose members risk life and limb to help people in distress but I've seen the Postal Union strike for long periods when one of their members has been suspended for gross misconduct, I've seen train drivers strike for more money, I've seen teachers strike for more money and if I put my mind to it I suppose I could find a few more 'firms' who have gone on strike for more money. |
| Chad Bond, West Drayton | Friday 17 January, 2003 | | | I think the fire brigade are selfish in what they are doing. They are putting the lives of ordinary persons at risk when striking. no goverment or company should give in to the 40% pay rise. those who chose to join the fire brigade, knew what there pay would be. i agree that they should be entitled to a pay rise ie. 4-5%/ not 40%. what about the nurses and doctors, who do more hrs than anyone? the fire brigade need to wake up and start to live in the real world.just imagine what would happen if airlines, transport and other companies demanded the same? |
| Lee Bradbury, CMK | Wednesday 15
January, 2003 | | | Well, this is a lively little 'Forum' isn't it? There seems to be a lot of bitterness and hostility flowing here! OK, I am biased. I was in the Fire Service, my father was in the London Fire Brigade from the 1950's to the 1980's (yes, he was in the last strike!) and my mother was a Controller in the Service. One thing I have noticed during this dispute is that people keep refering to the Armed Forces and saying that they run a greater risk of getting killed or injured than a Firefighter; and your point is??? The Armed Forces, by the nature of their job, are there to kill or be killed, there isn't really anything else to it. Oh yes, I was also in the Army so don't anyone jump up and down shouting 'ooh, he hates the Armed Forces'. People say that being a Firefighter isn't as dangerous as some other jobs; I agree, it isn't. But, how many jobs are there that require it's staff to go into places that other people are desperately trying to escape from in fear of dying? And before anyone leaves a message asking why my family all left this 'Wonder Job' I'll tell you. My father and I both suffered injuries that stopped us doing the job and my mother gave birth to me so she stopped working until I started school. |
| Sharon, Borehamwood | Wednesday 15 January, 2003 | | | I do agree that firefighters should be paid more but the army need to prepare for war if war happens even though i hope war dosen't happen it's not the right time to strike. |
| Rob White, Saudi | Wednesday 15 January, 2003 | | | Che Stevenage, you miss the point. I love my job and the day I stop enjoying it, I will leave. I am simply saying that we are already being asked to do more with less, both in terms of personnel and equipment the same as al lot of other public sector jobs, you are not alone. As for overseas allowance, I am being payed no extra for being here. |
| Jim, UK | Wednesday 15 January, 2003 | | | What a brilliant idea Ron of Potters Bar has come up with! To have the Fire Service and a seperate accident service. We will still need the same number of Fire Appliances to cover the fires and then additional Appliances and crews to cover RTA's. This will go along with the Fire Cover Review which the Government are so reluctent to publish. |
| Che, Stevenage | Wednesday 15 January, 2003 | | | Ron, the idea of splitting vehicle rescue is a step in the wrong direction, i'm sure even the government would admit that simply because it would increase public services costs. |
| Che, Stevenage | Wednesday 15 January, 2003 | | | Rob to be honest if you dont like working away from home on forces pay then why did you join? It is not a secret that the armed forces serve all over the world from Scotland to Belize and the pay is quite a lot better than you make out when you take into account overseas allowances etc. At my fire station there are a number of people who served in the falklands, the gulf and in the forces generally and none of them slag you off. Quite simply if the government where going to cut the forces you would be in uproar, if they said ok you can have a payrise only if we cut the number of staff, fire engines and stations (to the detriment of the service to the public (you ,I and our families)) and then said youve also got to use defibs, resusitators and do fire safety when we already do! you would feel quite annoyed. Oh and also i will be responding to any terrorist incident in the uk whether it is twin towers style or tokyo underground style so please do not wow people with your patriotism, that you are the only line of response to these threats. |
| Peter, Hemel Hempstead | Wednesday 15 January, 2003 | | | Ron Do you suffer from a short memory, or didn`t the Rail Crash occur at which the Fire Service was congratulated on their skill and professionalism in handling such an incident. As for Andy highjacking the FBU, got that wrong also, he has put forward exactly what the Firefighters want, and tried to defend himself from the pompous, incompetent, mindless morons of the Government and Press agencys in Blairs pocket. Yes please bring back military discipline, but according to New Labour and Bain, that is not Family Friendly and does not allow for ethnic diversity. As for the splitting of the Fire Service what happens when one part of the service is short will the other side cover, Oh can't as they won't be trained, part of cuts, never mind the Government dont give a damn for Human Life, Even when WE DO. |
| Rob White, Saudi | Tuesday 14 January, 2003 | | | Jim, UK, conditions and pay can't be that bad then if a lot of ex forces will be looking to be firefighters. Try working away from your family for months at a time, for most of the year, often in atrocious conditions and then having to cover a strike. All for less than the average firefighter. |
| Ron, Potters Bar | Tuesday 14 January, 2003 | | | A Fireman in Britain has one of the easiest and best paid jobs in the country. Andy Gilcrist is Highjacking the Fire Service to further his own ends in exactly the same way that New Labour High Jacked the dear old Labour Party. Both the Firemen and the Dear Old Labour Voters are much to sleepy to realise they are living thier lives now, not in the past and certainly not in the future. If they don't buck themselves up they will find the public has completely turned against them. It is about time we called up Firemen for National Emergency service and gave them the terms,pay,conditions and discipline of the Armed Services. It is also time to split the Fire Service in to two functions. A Fire Service and a separate Accident Service. |
| Jim, UK | Tuesday 14 January, 2003 | | | Rob White in Saudi, you will find a large number of Firefighters have served in the forces in NI, Falklands and the Gulf. No doubt a lot of those who have been on Green Godess duties will be looking to join up when their Military Service ends, just as they did after the last strike 25 years ago. |
| Tony New, UK | Tuesday 14 January, 2003 | | | We have a Fire and Rescue Service that operates to a nationally set standard to ensure that those in need receive the very best help in the shortest possible time, irrespective of where they live. The public have rightfully come to expect it. Mr Blair and gang want to provide the service on the cheap and fire stations will close, firefighters jobs will be lost and services will suffer. The government spin is of greedy firefighters asking for £8.50 an hour. Firefighters are continuing to do what they've always done, protect the members of the public against all dangers, and that includes this government. |
| Rob White, Saudi Arabia | Tuesday 14 January, 2003 | | | I am currently in the Saudi Desert serving my country with the RAF. When I return, I will be protecting UK air space against hijacked aircraft. I cannot strike in order to protest about pay and conditions, but if I did, would the firefighters cover my job, like we've had to cover theirs? I think not. |
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