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| pay campaign 2002 | ||
| To: ALL MEMBERS SOUTHERN
REGION From: DEAN MILLS MEMBERS UPDATE: 6th NOVEMBER 2002 The talks to resolve our fair pay claim continued today, Wednesday 6th November. There has been some further progress on the four points which form our claim. The point on which the negotiations hinge is the actual level of pay for Firefighters and Control Staff. The link to APT grade which has been agreed in outline means little if any rise is based on what we earn now, or close to it. It matters very little to us if for example a millionaire stockbroker gets 5% rise or a manual worker such as a roadsweeper gets a 5% rise. No matter which of these two we are linked to for pay it would result in the same 5% rise. What does matter of course is the movements in pay at the appropriate level and the classification and recognition of our skills which certainly are not at the manual or unskilled level. The point is that if we do not get the right pay rate before any formula is in place then the formula will only sustain our pay at that level. We need a fair starting rate at a professional level and then a professional formula to maintain it. The negotiations on Retained Pay Parity and Control’s Pay Parity have made considerable progress. This must be seen as a positive result after all we have heard from the employers to date. The employers have tonight been informed that the strike planned for 18:00 next Wednesday will go ahead unless there is an offer on pay. It must be an offer which is both substantial and reflect our skills as a starting point. Any offer made which is not or is made to stall us and further test our patience will be rejected. We have seen again today the role and function of today’s Firefighter and the skills we use every day. 12 people died early this morning on a train near Nancy in France. The cause was due, it is believed, to a faulty heating system on the sleeper train. Firefighter Jean-Louis Modere said. “The catastrophe was amplified by the fact that it was in a confined space. The fire was limited, and the amount of smoke very quickly became catastrophic" Our colleagues in France and Europe continue to send messages of support for our fair pay adjustment as do Firefighters from across the world. No Firefighters wish to withdraw their labour but incidents such as today’s, the fire in Leicester where Bro Bob Miller was killed this week, and the RTA’s and special services attended today across the country highlight the work we do. As the employers break up from tonight’s talks and return to their various constituent authorities for further meetings they must have finally grasped the full extent of the work we do every day. When they return for further talks on Tuesday 12th in London I sincerely hope they return with a genuine intention of resolving this dispute. It will not be resolved by stalling or thinking that our members will continue to be patient. We have shown phenomenal patience and goodwill. The FBU has been more than reasonable and despite almost 90% of members voting to strike we have suspended three strike periods. If there is no acceptable offer a week today then the employers will have failed in their duty and they will have left us with no alternative but to take the strike action we have strived to avoid. As they travel home tonight I hope they fully understand what the public expect of them, and what we expect from them.
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