• A Branch Meeting should be called for 18:00 on Wednesday 13th November to ensure all the latest information is available to every member on every branch.
  
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The infamous Mr Walker has been at it again. The Councillor said yesterday on GMR radio that Firefighters were ‘hotheads’. Are these the same hotheads who have suspended THREE strike periods, waited since 1977 for an adjustment in pay levels, and have taken national strike action just once in over 100 years?

Walker went on to say that we will get no more than 4% without modernisation. He also said there were too many Firefighters on duty at night. There you have it. The employers mouthpiece inflaming the situation by saying that for any fair offer (accepting that 4% is nowhere near fair) members of the public must be put at greater risk from fire at night when they are in their beds.

The public must wonder what goes on in the mind of an employer who believes it better to reduce the number of Firefighters available to attend road traffic accidents at night; and who believes that places requiring searching in smoke and which need evacuation in the early hours of the morning will be better served by fewer Firefighters at the scene.

I know that Mr. Walker thankfully does not represent the views of all employers. Those with some intelligence and common scene will no doubt make public their thoughts on Mr. Walkers ideas. Many have been doing it privately for years

House prices in one month rose by 4.7% according to the Halifax Building Society today. The October rise takes basic housing even further out of the reach of Firefighters.

A strike which closed Glasgow Underground for three days is over after a deal was struck. After 4 hours of talks today 35 drivers who had been sacked for taking unofficial action on Wednesday will get their jobs back. – Unity is Strength -

What has been said recently in Parliament?

John Robertson (Lab) Will my right hon. Friend ignore Opposition calls for firefighters in the services to cross the Fire Brigades Union picket lines, and does he agree that if they did so it would only inflame an already serious situation?

Mr. Ingram: At this stage, that is a wise judgment. As we move, hopefully, towards a negotiated settlement, it is better to try to keep down the temperature of the dispute. Again, however, the question is impossible because we do not know the shape, format and length of the dispute and, therefore, the nature of our response.

Mr. Peter Viggers (Con) We can all understand that while negotiations continue between the Government and the union, it is tactful not to give service personnel access to the latest Firefighting equipment available in the fire stations. Does the Minister accept, however, that in the interests of public safety there will come a point at which service personnel must be given access to the best equipment?

Mr. Ingram: The hon. Gentleman makes an important recognition in saying that the decision is tactful, but, more than that, it is sensible. This is both a logistics issue and a training issue. I know that there is a debate about how long it takes to train people, but we have committed large numbers of service personnel to the Green Goddess delivery system because of the short training required. If we decide to use sophisticated equipment for which longer training is needed, where will we get the personnel from? If we use the same pool of people, they will have to be taken out of service to be trained, so the logistics make it impractical to use that equipment. All these matters have to be kept under review, but there are no plans to do as the hon. Gentleman suggested.

Bob Russell (Lib Dem): Putting the fire dispute to one side, does the Minister agree that it would be in the national interest if one or two regiments of the British Army were trained to use the sophisticated modern fire appliances to create a reservoir of trained personnel for firefighting and other emergency duties in a national emergency?

Mr. Ingram: No, I do not take the view that that is sensible because we do not want to appear as though we are always prepared, rather than forced, to participate. There is also the problem of skill fade. A sizeable number could be trained for an eventuality, but it is 25 years since the Green Goddesses were last called out. [Interruption.] I appreciate that we had to deploy them in regional strikes. We would have to consider where the regiments would be based. It would also be unfair on the personnel who were trained as permanent firefighters because that is not why they joined the armed forces, irrespective of which branch they represent. Nevertheless, in terms of emergency support for the community, we always stand ready to meet that immediate demand if and when it arises.

Mr. Dennis Skinner (Lab): Is the Minister aware that I agree with him about not inflaming the industrial situation while negotiations continue? The Tories say that we should allow someone else to use the appliances, but the strike is not continuous. The firefighters will want to use the same appliances, which will be impossible after their eight days have concluded. Not only would the Tory approach inflame the situation: it would be practical nonsense as well.

Mr. Ingram: I tried to explain some of the practical difficulties that would arise from that approach. Hopefully my hon. Friend agrees with my assessment of that. I certainly tend to agree with his presentation of the problem.

When God Made Firefighters

When God was creating Firefighters, he was into the sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, "You're doing a lot of extra work on this one."

And the Lord said, "Have you read the specs on this order?”

“A Firefighter has to wake up to a fire alarm go into burning buildings to rescue people and enter areas the normal person wouldn't go. They have to be willing to leave their family and put their life on the line and work to exhaustion and beyond and be ready for the next call.

They have to have a strong commitment to a personal calling that places their lives in jeopardy every day, and to be in top physical and mental condition at all times. They function on black coffee, cold tea and half-eaten meals; have a heart big enough to love members of the brotherhood world wide and have a unity of purpose.”

The angel shook its head slowly and said, "A heart that big... no way."

"It's not the heart that is causing me problems," said the Lord, "it's the extra hands and eyes a Firefighter has to have."

"That has to be on the standard model?" asked the angel.

The Lord nodded. “One pair of eyes that sees the whole situation, another pair that sees what is ahead to be dealt with, a third pair to watch out for their sisters and brothers; and another pair here in front that can look reassuringly at an injured victim and say, 'You'll be alright' even when they know it isn't so."

"Lord," said the angel, touching his sleeve, "rest and work on this tomorrow."

"I can't” said the Lord. "I already have a model that can carry a 190 pound victim out of a burning building, has dedicated their life to helping people and is willing to come to the aid of those threatened by the deadly force of fire, or whatever other danger threatens them. No matter what the threat other people know they will only have to ask for help and the Firefighter will be there”

The angel circled the model of the Firefighter very slowly, "Can it think clearly at all times even when in danger?" the angel asked.

"Yes" said the Lord.

"It can tell you the elements of a hundred fires, the victims and rescues, and the importance of fire safety. The Chemical symbols, talk of physics, radiation, building design and Vehicle construction. This Firefighter can tell you about life saving, self sacrifice, rescues from water, caves and crashed trains and aeroplanes and still keep a sense of humour."

"Being a Firefighter is one of bravery, loyalty and devotion to public service. It is willing to put its life on the line every day to protect our homes and our loved ones from the devastating effects of fire, and sometimes, the honourable job of saving lives requires many Firefighters to pay the ultimate price for their courage both on and off duty."

Finally, the angel ran a finger across the cheek of the Firefighter. "There's a leak," the angel pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put too much in this model."

"That’s not a leak," the Lord said, "it's a tear."

"What's the tear for?" asked the angel.

"It's for bottled-up emotions, for fallen comrades, for the victims and for total commitment to the communities they serve."

"You're a genius," said the angel.

The Lord looked sombre. "I didn't put it there," he said.

Dean Mills
Regional Secretary

Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you have any queries or want any more information please contact me on:

Mob: 07956 502585

Regional Office: 01494 513034

email:deanmills@hotmail.com