To: ALL MEMBERS SOUTHERN REGION

From: DEAN MILLS

MEMBERS UPDATE: 28th NOVEMBER 2002

Well what a week so far. The Government have proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that they are not only economical with the truth but tell blatant lies.

Mr Anthony Blair MP you are a liar.

You say our dispute will cost £500,000,000.

You say to cut station numbers and reduce the number of Firefighters will provide a better service to the public.

You say it is safe to have fewer firefighters on duty at night and the public will not be at greater risk.

I say YOU are a hypocrite and a liar. I will be repeating this both in public on our campaign lines, and on radio and television discussions both recorded and live.

If you believe this is in any way libellous or slanderous then I invite you to sue me for damages.

Dean Mills

Tomorrow we have a meeting of Pay Co-ordinators in London. We will be discussing the dispute so far and the Governments deliberate interfering. Many of you have been in touch regarding tactics for the future as was discussed at the Regional Meeting this week. All your ideas and points will be put forward.

Its not a case of if, but when we will win, and we have to keep up the maximum pressure on the Government and minimise the problems for ourselves. Together we will.

Some ideas to keep you busy:

• Please put together quiz questions for the next Picket Press

• Who can out-do Caversham Road in the furniture and woodworking market? Perhaps YOU can put together furniture, or how about kennels and rabbit hutches from the wood you are receiving.

They could go very nicely and boost your donations.

• Visit not the nearest station but draw up a list of 7 other stations you would like to visit and give each a ‘day’. If on that day you can go, then take a trip and increase the mutual support.

At B23 Cosham, Portsmouth, an elderly lady donated her entire heating allowance which she had just got from the post office, she refused to take it saying she would rather through it into the road than take it back. Who says the public support is only stable and not growing?

Billy Bragg TONIGHT and TOMORROW.

The Army are, we have been told, getting up to £1,000 per 10 days cover in extra pay. They are doing the best job they can. Send messages to them that our dispute is not with the military and we wish them well. As for their commanders in Whitehall…..that’s quite another matter. Thanks for the info.

So: The Government only want to pay us as manual workers.

OK then . Lets work to that. What changes will it mean when we go back to work if we are only paid as manual workers and only use the equipment we might fairly use as manual workers?

All community fire safety will stop. Manual workers would not do that. Only legislative fire safety will be carried out and only by those qualified to do it.

All rescue equipment other than a crow bar, hacksaw, and hammer will be removed from all appliances.

Breathing apparatus will be for casualty rescue and self-protection only.

All fire fighting will defensive only and only using low pressure hose reels or garden hoses already in-situ

Only paper based systems will be used as each and every computer system require some level of skill and we clearly have none according to the Government.

All rope rescues, offshore firefighting, high rise rescues, ariel rescues and use, and confined space working will cease immediately. They all need skills for which we will not be paid.

Any incident other than those of one pump will not be attended as the command and control required will be beyond us a manual workers.

Chemicals spills will be left as we cannot manage to deal with them on manual pay and manual skill levels. Private companies can do it on commercial rates.

I am sure you all get the idea and perhaps will forward your own list of what we must stop doing if we are only to get a manual rate of pay!

• Congratulations to the Hull taxi driver who recently had the pleasure of giving Mrs Pauline Prescott a lift. After hearing her slag off the FBU, he overcharged the DPM's first lady by £3.00 and dropped the money off into an FBU collection bucket! I wonder if that’s why the decorators charged so much for the office modernisation!!??

• FBU Banners must NOT be hung on motorway bridges etc. If they cause an accident we may be liable for any injury.

• Chancellor Gordon Brown had explained the contents of the Public Borrowing Requirement to colleagues. Mr Brown told the Cabinet yesterday:

"We are seeing the sharpest slow down in global economic activity for almost 30 years. World trade which grew by 13 per cent two years ago was at a standstill last year and has hardly grown this year.

"Despite these difficulties, the UK is better placed to cope than it was in the past but this is only possible because of the difficult decisions taken over the last five years to keep inflation down and keeping public finances on a firm footing. There will be no risks with economic stability.

The Prime Minister welcomed the Chancellor's comments by saying the Country was in a stronger position than any other major country.

If that’s the case then why when everything is going well is it always Mr Browns doing and when its going badly its due to other factors like firefighters asking to be paid a fair rate of pay?

The fat cat at the Mail

The Mail on Sunday called Andy Gilchrist, the fire union leader, a "fat cat" for his SDO salary. The Mail on Sunday's editor-in-chief, Paul Dacre, receives a basic yearly salary of £690,000 plus pensions plus expenses plus shares. Who's fat?

Retained Members

FBU members in Whitchurch Hampshire, (Not Whitchurch Bucks which close a few years ago to save money) had been supporting the fair pay dispute since the beginning. They now have a Campaign Line set up at the Station.

Congratulations to Great Missenden for your response to the mobilising off your station ground. Courage, solidarity and sound principles all displayed this week. It won’t be forgotten.

Officers

To those who have been in touch. I will pass on your comments to the Brigade Officials and see their response. Its never too late but the decision is that of the Brigade committee.

Control Staff

What can we say. Unity is strength and thanks to those who have chatted, discussed, e-mailed and written in. I know the problems of perception before the campaign lines started. But as you have seen; we are disciplined, respectful and most importantly, dignified people. Keep the faith and unity.

UNISON

I am speaking to Unison on Saturday in Winchester. They have given support from day 1 and this is a typical example. (Though I am not sure we ought to really consider Nick Raynsford ‘honourable’)

Right Honourable Nick Raynsford MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

27th November 2002

Dear Nick

George Bain Review of the Fire Service

UNISON represents 85% of the Ambulance Staff employed in the UK Ambulance Services.

We were concerned to read in Professors Bain’s report, recommendations that fire-fighters should train as paramedic’s and that joint emergency control rooms should be established.

During the course of the week, there have been numerous media statements by you supporting these proposals. UNISON is alarmed that there appears to be very little understanding within your department on the role of either paramedics or control staff.

Paramedics undertake a three-year course of study. When student paramedics have successfully passed all their examinations they are admitted to the paramedic register. Only qualified paramedics are registered and “Paramedic” will be a closed title from April 2003.

Ambulance control staff are also very highly skilled and trained in their specialist area. Ambulance Control Staff give life-saving medical advice to 999 callers. They also communicate with Ambulance Crews to ensure that they have accurate and up to date information about the incident and the medical condition of the patient. This saves vital minutes when the crew arrive on the scene.

It is fundamentally flawed assumption that fire and ambulance staff can generically inter-change roles.

We are of course aware that there are combined fire and emergency health services in a number of countries. However, when there are combined services there are separately trained staff and separate vehicles, crews, command and control etc.

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss with you in more detail our concerns identified above. We would also discuss UNISON’s policy on 1st Responders and our support for all public servants and the general public being encouraged to access ambulance training in life saving skills. This should enhance but not replace dedicated Ambulance Services.

We look forward to hearing from you to agree an early mutually agreeable date.

Yours sincerely

KAREN JENNINGS
NATIONAL SECRETARY - HEALTH

By to Sky:

If YOU think that SKY have been biased in their reporting of our dispute then tell them. If all of our members who subscribe stopped it is estimated that this alone would cost them £5.1 million pounds. Write and tell them that you will do if THEY don’t report fairly.

The Isle of Wight.

What can I say but thanks to those who attended Yesterday and today. Locked out but complete unity and solidarity. Huge public support (keep the chips coming!) and a determination to win as strong as ever. NO CFO should treat ANY firefighters in this manner. The CFO is acting in a manner which will extend this dispute far beyond any return to work date. Thankfully many councillors can see this and thanks to the two who wish to remain nameless who rang me on Wednesday night. Much appreciated and I am sure you will receive support for your idea in the New Year.

On the matter of CFO’s and employers locally. Can I say that some have been outstanding and show not only an understanding of sound industrial relations but also of being a fair employer and maintaining humanity not demonstrated by some.

Safety Issues:

It is VITAL that we get our safety message over THIS WEEKEND on Saturday and Sunday. Get into local shopping areas etc and pass out our safety message. Leaflets can be handed out and ask if the public want THEIR local station to close. Whilst we cannot collect money as a street collection remember any donations always welcome.

• The quiz questions are coming in though I don’t think I could put some in writing as I am not sure the Labour Party solicitors would agree that some are even possible!!!

• I know the media have been less than helpful but consider the Morning Star’s coverage. Log on to the web site if you cant get the paper. EVERY day they support us. If others don’t then we should support those who support us. Get the paper and read the truth. Thanks also to the Sunday and Daily Mirror; and Clinton. Cheers.

Tired, Stinking, Headache and done in….but alive.

I am tired and just about dead on my feet like many officials and members. I spoke to a meeting in Bristol last night and managed to get home without nodding off!! ? It was a humbling experience. I spoke to the Columbian Solidarity group and before I gave a report on our dispute and a collection was made for us I saw a film on the work of trade union members like you and I. We may be tired but for doing nothing more than we are now they get assassinated.

It is important to build our links with all those who support us and our fair pay campaign. We may be tired and stinking of wood smoke (or donuts!!) but we are still alive.

Visits

I have been to many branches and will go to many more. Help me to help you. Share the visits to others and give support. If you want an update and question session let me know and if you can get together with another station.

REMINDER

Those on the official picket line must be from that station with the exceptions laid out in the Pink Book you have. For any further advice on movements to other places etc then give me a call or text with a contact number.

To every member. To list every action of which you can be proud would take several pages. Keep up the work you are doing and draw strength from those around you.

TOGETHER we WILL win this dispute

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