London Fire Brigade Strikes

[jokar]

Bit more for this, the Officers have decide to keep the 27 pumps off the run for a little longer.  I wonder what the public think about that, perhaps they do not know.  It seems the London Safety Plan is going up in smoke.  LFB had a 10 pump fire last evening and wanted to make it fifteen but not enough pumps about.  That won't hit the press either.  However, some firefighters have now been suspended including a female station manager who received her QFSM from the Queen this week!

[Golden]

Regarding the suspensions I've heard that a large number of members of staff are under investigation for incidents during and after the strikes. There is a lot of ill feeling in the organisation and once again it seems the protagonists - i.e. the management and FBU officials - will come out smelling of roses - or something in close proximity to a well fed rose anyway. If what Jokar has said is true about certain personnel, and obviously if anything is proven, it will be a sad day to see someone suffer who has always tried to do the best for the community and her colleagues.

As for the whole sorry affair as someone once said - if it looks like s**t and smells like s**t then it probably is s**t.

[Clevelandfire 3]

dont get me wrong i understand the beef the firefighters and union have with lfb but i just dont see that the strikes will achieve anything and to be honest lfb know that. so i cant see why the union have decided to pursue strike action. its just demonstrated that lfb can still cope with assetco running people over and occassionally putting out fires. this dispute will probably mark the end of the fbu too. total mess.

[mr angry]

The union didnt decide on strike action, it was a democratic decision taken by the members. Strike action is often a last resort and not taken lightly. As for Asset Co coping, I assume that was a toungue and cheek remark.

[Midland Retty]

I think the point being made is that whilst it's members decided to strike, the FBU had to call a ballot in order for strike action to be taken.

The union would have been better placed IMHO to advise its members to hold back on any strike action because politically strike action in this climate is just a complete no brainer.

No one has come out of it looking particularly rosey, the public is far from impressed I've had derogatory comments from people in the Midlands who were under the impression all fire crews are on  strike too - and who could blame them.

As Cleveland mentioned this could spark the end of the FBU in it's current state. It won't dissolve into nothing, but I suspect its membership will dwindle significantly and that it will loose any political clout it had left.

Unfortunately the whole sorry state of affairs has been a very costly and pointless excercise, as much as I support London crews and as much as I understand their concerns, they need to accept that the tide is changing, the employer will get what the employer wants, and its time to bite the bullet and accept that. The way the LFB and particular Mr Coleman the Chair has dealt with the situation has been both provocative, arrogant, and inappropriate, but alas there isn't much you, I or anyone else can do about that particularly during a time when the public at large are facing much tougher challenges than the LFB crews.

[Clevelandfire 3]

Well said Midland!

[Golden]

As I've said earlier its been obvious for years what the LFB want to do and need the 12 hour shifts to facilitate this; it would have been much more productive of the FBU to discuss and negotiate rather than taking the 'Just say no' stance.

Before the 2003 strike I had the privilege of sitting with a couple of influential people who were talking about what would happen when the strike was over and how the brigade would use the extra personnel from the new dimensions programme to tempt the FBU into allowing reductions in other areas, plus some of the other issues that would be agreed. They were spot on with their predictions - oh and by the way this was before the FBU ballot result had even been announced!

[mr angry]

Before calling a ballot the fbu officials will have consulted branches...show of hand etc at branch level.

I also dont think anyone has "come out of it" yet as it is far from over and may have national implications, but I suppose only time will tell.

[Midland Retty]

Absolutely Mr Angry

But did reps at local branch level try to show the troops any alternatives to strike action?

As you can see, not just from the media but also comments on this forum that the strikes have had a negative effect. The public are under the impression its a dispute over pay (which of course it isn't).

So I again question how Mr Wrack felt there was anything to be gained to go ahead with strike action in the current climate rather than advocating alternatives to his members.

[Mushy]

well when I joined this site I obviously didn't have a clue as to who was on here or the cut of their jib...but now this has opened up it has become a lot less murky and in some cases crystal clear

we all have differing views..ok no worries with that but its the crass ignorance of some on here that is truly gobsmacking...piglet...you seem to be quoting straight from the daily mail...50 k?...wtf?...this dispute is NOT about pay so why bring that crap up?

The brigade has threatened to sack the whole workforce if they dont accept different, anti social and anti family shift patterns...bullying in the highest degree. This should not and will not be tolerated in this modern age...its like a mill owner from the 19th century....get down on your knees...you will be given what you get or your sacked!

Some on here are banging on about the 'present climate'...so the banks feck the country up so therefore we all have to timidly accept what the government and employers say no matter what the circumstances are...what lilly livered crass nonesense, some on here will be taking us back to the victorian doff cap yes m'lud times...get a backbone!

The FBU have always said all along...lift the threat of the sackings and the strike action would never have taken place...simple!

for all those carping on about the FBU hierarcy...just take a look at the complete imbecile and selfish lowlife that is Brian Coleman, Fire Authority Chairman...take the time to read up on this toad

http://www.uk-fire.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2437&d=1245264651


I prefer this than the mails version of events...but I would wouldn't I

Tinpot Tory is Guy to blame
By Kevin Maguire 3/11/2010

OUR MAN IN THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Firefighters should be close to self-combusting over abuse which could be dismissed as laughable if it wasn't so pernicious.

Hailed as heroes when rescuing us from burning buildings, they're denounced as villains for standing up for themselves.

If a London strike goes ahead this Friday, on Bonfire Night, I know who to blame. It isn't the crews who put their lives on the line for £33,000 in one of the world's costliest cities.

The villainous Guy Fawkes in this dispute is Brian Coleman, left, an incendiary Tory.

Friday's walkout could be suspended today if Bungling Brian lifted a threat to sack 6,000 firefighters. Yet instead of meaningful talks about shifts, he pours petrol on the dispute.

I've a piece of advice for this tinpot Thatcher: rubbishing a tight-knit workforce only makes them more determined.

Fat Cat Coleman isn't worth the earnings of one firefighter never mind three.

Bungling Bob's so arrogant he tried to avoid publishing his expenses.

When he was forced to, we discovered why - they were among the highest on the London Assembly.

Claims included a £275 cab bill to attend the fire brigade's annual carol concert.

If the Bonfire Night strike is lit, it must be a final taxi for Coleman.


Get more from Kevin Maguire on his blog at blogs.mirror.co.uk/maguire.

[mr angry]

I am really not quite sure what alternatives you have in mind MR, especially given that for several months they had been taking other action short of strike action in the form of no overtime, acting up and generally all other good will.

[Midland Retty]

Things like working to rule, including as you already mentioned no overtime, calling in ACAS for mediation sooner, lobbying MPs to raise awareness of the LFEPA's actions against it's employees, better media campaigning to explain cause of unrest to the public, try to involve more of the middle management to add support and momentum to the dispute, calling for a vote of no confidence in the chair and commissioner of LFB etc etc

[Ricardo]

Just spotted this, for those who may have missed it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS7ysdhXFfg

[Clevelandfire 3]

I saw this originally on channel 4 news. He is a horrible man that Brian Coleman!!!

[colin todd]

I rather like him. He seems a nice man. I have never liked The Rack, or for that matter any of his professional henchmen, who are cynical and manipulative.