Fire Fighter Strike in the UK

[Zebedee]

The Fire Brigades Union have been doing series of strikes here in the UK.

Fire fighters want a new pay formula to replace the old formula. They want a pay rise this year, The government is offering them 4% rise this year as an advance on the new formula and which would have been paid from the first week in November. The FBU says it wants a 40 % pay increase. And 50 % for control room staff.

Personally I think 40% is a steep rise, I think they are being unreasonable. Going on strike will put peoples lives at risk. I agree that the fire fighters deserve fair wage, But 40 and 50 % isn't fairness. It's fantasy.

No Government can afford to see pay rises of 40% with their knock on effects on public pay and the economy.

It would mean interest rates going up, mortgage rates going up - and less money for services like health and education.

Do you think FBU are doing the right thing?

To read more about this go to

http://www.firesafe.org.uk/html/FFstrike.htm

[Theresa]

I'd think that would be scary. For lack of a better word. We've lost our home to fire 3x, and the thought that the firemen wouldn't come never crossed our minds.
And yeah, that is alot of money that they want.

[alisa_2002000]

I think a 40% Increase is to steep to, and going on strike is not the answer. They're currently on an 8 day strike now and peoples lives are at risk

[Pah-Wraith]

oh we had a few fires in aberdeen and the green godess fire engines (Used by the army) seemed to do the job quite well

[alisa_2002000]

I'm sure they're doing a very good job but they really shouldn't have to do it to start with

[Zebedee]

Yeah I agree.

There are better ways to resolve it. Nurses are over worked and under paid but you don�t see them going on strike. The thing is if they let the FBU succeed other professions who are paid by the government such as teaching etc.. may also try to do the same thing.

John Prescott (a Labor MP) goes on about trying to keep the UK safe and not wanting to meet the fire fighters demands. So After some meetings the government where prepared to offer them 16% pay raise which the fire fighters were more than happy to except, but Prescott didn�t turn up to the meeting he had organized with the FBU! So nothing became of it, so the fire fighters walked out again and started an 8-day strike.

So at the moment we have to put up with the green goddesses but the army isn�t as efficient; they don�t have the specialized cutting tools to deal with things like car accidents. They are also very slow, when they get called out there max speed is 40 to 50 mph and they also need a police escort wherever they go. They are also not available to all areas. It�s better than nothing though.

[Jeremy]

I agreee that its a bit much but if the government are allowed to do it (and have, also by 40%) then they might as well, and for a more dangerous job.

[Zefram Cochrane]

[Zefram Cochrane]

When you say 40% you think that is alot although the fire men dont get paid alot anyway so getting 40% more of there pay isnt that much a hike.

Firemen are on low wages and doing a dangerous job while most pen pushers are earning 5 times as much.

(( MY dads a fireman ))

((he says hell beat me if I say bad things ))

[Jeremy]

((I'll beat you anyway scott ))
What scott says there is true. Compare them to lawyers - they don't risk their lives but they get paid a lot. (weeeellll, maybe some risk their lifes, what with people nowadays )