UK Firefighter dispute 2002/2003

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In late 2002, the UK firefighters union, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), voted to take strike action in an attempt to secure a better salary. The FBU was demanding an increase in pay of 39 percent, which would have brought the average firefighter's wage (at the time) to around £30,000, the strike was a direct result of changes to working practises in the fire serivce in the United Kingdom as a result of a wide-ranging Independent Review of the Fire Service, led by Professor Sir George Bain. This was the first nationwide firefighters' strike in the UK since the 1970s. The FBU planned to march in London on December 7.

The strike came as part of a wave of industrial action in Britain, which began with the council workers' strike in July of the same year, and continued with other events, for example, 95% of the UK's postal workers voting for industrial action. [1]

Contents

[edit] Strike periods

The first few weeks of the planned action were postponed while negotiation took place. The first period, a two day strike, began at 18:00 (6pm) on Wednesday 13 November and ended at 18:00 on Friday 15 November. In the event that reconciliation could not be brokered, further industrial action was planned for the following dates:

The armed forces provided emergency cover during the strike, using the vintage Green Goddess engines as part of Operation Fresco.

This cover was not sufficient, and the strike put lives at risk. Each side placed the responsibility entirely with the other; the FBU said that their employer's failure to meet their demands was the cause of the strike. Many feared that lives would be lost in fires because of a lack of a prompt response by emergency services. There were numerous examples of striking firefighters responding to emergency calls from the picket line and several rescues were made in this way.

[edit] Negotiations

The first few weeks of the planned action were postponed while negotiation took place. The FBU rejected an offer that would amount to 11% over two years from a review body headed by Sir George Bain, and were unwilling to accept reforms to their working conditions. The FBU was widely criticised for its initial demand for a 40% pay-rise for both firemen and support workers; indeed, it refused to abandon this demand despite mounting public disquiet concerning the FBU's stance.

On March 19, 2003, leaders of the FBU and negotiators for the local authority employers reached a provisional agreement based on a three year pay settlement and an understanding that modernisation measures would be subject to some measure of local negotiation. To the surprise of many observers, this was voted down by local area FBU representatives the following day.

On June 12, 2003, the dispute ended with the firefighters accepting a pay deal worth 16% over three years linked to changes to working conditions.

[edit] Public support

Many, including the firefighters themselves, believed that the British public were largely supportive of the firefighters, and saw the government as intransigent and prepared to squander billions on supporting US war efforts while underpaying public servants. For example, the FBU branch secretary at Sale fire station in Greater Manchester said that the strike received a "tremendous amount of support from the public... [it] has been fantastic." [2]

Many British trade unions, such as the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, expressed solidarity, particularly at the rally on September 2.

While public respect for firefighters had generally been high, some members of the public resented what they perceived to be an attempt by the firefighters to abuse their position for financial gain, and regarded their apparent willingness to put others' lives at risk as a form of extortion. This view was expressed by many of the right wing newspapers and tabloids, particularly The Sun and the Daily Mail.

The head of the Fire Brigades Union at the time was Andy Gilchrist.

[edit] Criticisms of the firefighters' claims

A central tenet of the firefighter's claims was that their level of pay did not reflect the risks inherent in their day-to-day activities. However, a study in the Lancet found firefighting to be the 23rd most dangerous occupation after common occupations such as refuse collectors, builders, lorry drivers, and farm workers. This is due largely to the advances in training and health and safety pushed for by the FBU. This study was based on official figures, although quite old ones, dating from 1979-1980 and 1982-83.

Critics also said that the firefighters' claim that their wage was unfair was also damaged by the reported fact that advertised posts for firefighters could receive 40 applications, indicating by the laws of supply and demand that the pay was more than sufficient. However, in response to this last point, the FBU said that only one in 25 of those applicants were suitable for the post.

[edit] Deaths

On November 14, 2002, an 86-year-old man named Evan Davies, died in a house fire. His sheltered housing was half a mile away from a striking fire station, with an automatic fire alarm tied into a national control centre. It took twenty minutes for a Green Goddess to reach him from its base five miles away. Typically, 600-700 people die each year in fires in the UK.

[edit] Trivia

On January 21, 2003, striking firefighters in Tooting, London, had to cross their own picket line when their brazier set fire to the fire station.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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