13th July 2004
At the EC meeting held today a timetable for completion of negotiations
to members satisfaction was agreed unanimously. The Strategy Advisory
Group also met this morning.
Tomorrow the negotiators will start talks at the TUC with the employers
in a last ditch attempt to rescue our overdue pay deal. The negotiating
team has been extended and the main area of negotiations will be
on grievance and discipline issues. These talks must be completed
by the 21st July.
On the 15th July the Campaign Co-ordinators meet near Birmingham
for their input and an update.
On the 22nd July the EC meet in Kingston and the employers have
a meeting planned in London. By this time we will know where we
are as far as the negotiations are concerned on these two items.
A meeting of the S.A.G. will take place the following day. There
is also a meeting planned on the 27th of July of the EC.
There will also be a meeting of officials before the end of July
to fully brief and update and receive feedback from these officials
from all brigades. If the negotiations fail for any reason or should
there be no agreement reached on the payment of our overdue money
in full in both parts, then the resolution as passed at Southport
stands in full.
The Ballot process can start as early as the 2nd August and in the
legal constraints placed upon all unions our ballot can close on
the 31st August with the first industrial action taking place as
soon as 7th September.
The extended negotiating team will do everything possible to avoid
any industrial action being required and everything possible to
ensure that if we do not receive, in full, the outstanding 3.5 and
4.2% increases then our YES vote is carried and I have no doubt
at all it will be.
The employers have to face up to their responsibilities. They are
in debt to us. They have acted in a way in which not only firefighters,
control staff and the public find abhorrent; but in a manner some
CFO’s and Fire Authorities also find totally unacceptable.
We have to continue with our determination to reach an acceptable
successful outcome.
If I asked you to build a wall 10 courses high and 20 foot long
for £20:00 and we agreed the price I am sure you would be
less than happy if when you had finished you found I wasn’t going
to pay you until you added five more courses and extended it by
10 foot.
I imagine you would also be even less content if I insisted you
again add some height and use an improved mortar using new tools
to build fancy designs in the wall. Especially if you were then
told I would only pay you when the Department of Wall inspectors
had to agree the wall was to the highest of standards!
I think by this time I’d want to stop any building until I was paid
what was agreed in full and had the new skills paid for and recognised.
Our job is to build the fire service the public deserve and to ensure
those of us who deliver it are paid what we are worth and that the
conditions we work under are the best possible. To undermine these
positions does nothing to improve the fire service. Our employers
must recognise this and accept responsibility for any failure to
secure these positions.
The negotiations which start tomorrow give us a little over two
weeks in total to come to an agreement and secure our outstanding
pay. If there is any failure by the employers then we will move
on, successfully, with the ballot.
Members must continue to work as they have been doing for a high
turnout in any ballot and for a high yes vote to send a clear message
to the employers.
The continued contempt some employers are treating us with is wholly
unacceptable. There will be no building of the fire service or extension
of it until we are paid what we are owed and our skill and worth
recognised in full.
Operational Firefighters, Control Firefighters, Day Staff, and all
other members of the fire service deserve a fair rate of pay and
to be treated with respect. That respect will not come from employers
who believe we will bow to their every whim.
Our employers have a stark and simple choice. Reach an agreement
acceptable to us by the 31st July with our pay paid in full or face
the consequences of our successful yes vote in a ballot.
There is not a single FBU official or member who wants to take industrial
action. There is also not a single official or member who is willing
to be treated with contempt and continue to have their pay withheld.
We will do all we can to reach an agreement. We are reasonable union.
We will also do all we can to ensure we are treated with respect
and paid what we are worth and have been promised. We are a fair
union.
If the employers blow this opportunity to resolve this dispute we
will also be successful in our YES vote for industrial action. We
are a united membership and a strong union.
Unity is our strength, Strength comes from unity.
Dean Mills |
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