To: ALL MEMBERS SOUTHERN REGION

From: DEAN MILLS

MEMBERS UPDATE: 15th NOVEMBER 2002

Commiserations and congratulations

• I know not a single Firefighter or control operator wanted to take industrial action in this region. I am however overwhelmed at the level of public support and the determination of our members.
  
• The media have tried to say we lack public support, it is waning, and they will desert us in droves. If that’s true then why was there a queue of people waiting to give money and donations of food and drink to our firefighters and control staff on the campaign lines?

The newspapers have been less than fair in the reporting. Who cares? A woman tonight on a campaign line said that while she bought the Mail and the Sun she knew what they wrote about our dispute was non-sense but she liked the answers and questions section of the Mail and her husband did the Sun crossword. I know the TV press and the print press are often in disagreement but recent days have shown how varied their coverage has been. Simply remember who said what and don’t buy their papers.

• I have to congratulate every single member of this union and commiserate with each of you for being forced into this position. We have though seen how solid our support and strength is. Self belief is a wonderful thing.
  
• Blair said that no Government could cave in to a 40% pay claim. Funny how he didn’t seem the need to ‘cave in’ or ask public opinion when he took a 41% rise. And lets clear up a point on this 40%. If Blair took a 5% rise would that be reasonable? Well many would say it doesn’t seem a lot. 5%. Not greedy. Not over the top. Well consider this. A 5% rise for Mr Blair will give him the same rise in monetary terms as a 40% adjustment for us. While people might believe a 40% adjustment for us is too much why is the same rise in pounds acceptable for Blair if it equates to 5% of his salary?
  
• Bain talks about Horizontal earnings in the fire service. That is doing more jobs to get extra pay. Is that why as well as working for Queens University he earns vast sums for his other work like his two additional directorships and his work as advisor the The Bank of Ireland. Nice work if you can get it Mr Bain. But Firefighters don’t get the offers you do or the chance to grab money like you do. We in the Southern Region would like to know what additional offers for ‘work’ you have had to enhance your ‘horizontal earnings’ since you got into bed with the same government who knighted you!
  
• So who has the best photograph from the campaign line? The Wycombe pigeon or is it the Accident? Send me your photos and reports.
  
• There is a meeting on Monday with John Prescott to discuss responses to major incidents and other responses from us. An EC meeting follows in the afternoon. A full update will be given as soon as the outcome is known.
  
• So the Army want our appliances. This causes some difficulty. Some we don’t own as they are leased and all have the potential to main those using them. I wouldn’t like to see any soldier injured. And to the Mail on Sunday reporter…No..its not like driving a transit van ‘but a bit heavier on the steering!’

  If the Army use the red fleet then can I apply to race in a formula 1 grand prix? I can drive, its just a car, whats the problem? OK OK assuming I get sponsorship from a labour supporting person and get round the rules……could I do it? Well of course I may be able to drive but I won’t be winning any races. In fact I am more than likely to injure someone. A bit like the difference between a Green Goddess and a modern Fire Engine I suppose.

• I was going to mention Nick Raynsford. But theres no point. No need to speak ill of the dead; …politically.

• “Despite the adverse media coverage we have received from many quarters we have maintained fantastic support from the public throughout this 48 hour strike. Many people have been visiting our picket lines and donating money to FBU Hardship Funds over the last 48 hours. Our members have asked me to publicly thank everyone that has supported us so far and to ask for your continued support throughout this dispute.
  
• Not one professional Firefighter or Emergency Fire Control Staff member wants to take strike action. We now have a window of opportunity before the next strike to seek a resolution before any more lives are put at risk. All we are claiming is a take home pay of £8.50 an hour for the professional job our members do 24 hours a day 365 days a year.
  
• FBU members will never accept life saving cuts to the Service whether under the guise of Bain or not. We do not and will not accept the Government’s so-called modernisation agenda which will take the Service back to the 1950’s. We currently have the finest professional Fire Service in the world. The Fire Brigades Union fully accepts there are areas which could be modernised and improved upon and we wholeheartedly support initiatives which will improve the Service not cut it.”

• I would like to take just a moment to thank every single official and member of the FBU in the region for their work and support of each other in the last 48 hours. To each and every control operator, officer part time and full time member. Congratulation and a thank you to Eddie and Stuart for doing the web site and updating everything as well as doing the national updates.
  
• To any members or any of the public reading this who wish to telephone for more information and or updates. There is no problem at all doing this but if you withhold your number or it isn’t shown then I am afraid your call may not get a response. An email always will though as even if masked we can get the source within 2 minutes so have the right person to reply to.
  
• When I joined this job I wanted to help people, not take industrial action or strike. I also wanted the public properly protected and to have a service properly funded. It seems this government and I are not seeking the same things. That’s why I and all other firefighters and control operators were on strike. If this government wish to get us back to work, then get us back to the negotiating table and don’t run from it as you have done. Just because you cannot answer the questions we put to you there is no need to leave any talks nor to interfere in talks with our employers who at least had the sense to understand what sort of offer could ensure negotiations continued.
  
• Why is it when this government talk about modernization they talk about ways to make more cuts and when we talk about modernisation we talk about more ways to save lives?
  
• Perhaps its not just the House of Lords which requires modernisation but the public should look at how we can best modernize the Commons and its air of a Gentleman’s Club next to the river serving subsidised food and drink. It would be nice for all of us to have a working policy of ‘turn up when you want to and get paid’ no matter how little you do.

Mob: 07956 502585

Regional Office: 01494 513034

email:deanmills@hotmail.com