| To: ALL MEMBERS SOUTHERN
REGION
From: DEAN MILLS
MEMBERS UPDATE: 29th NOVEMBER 2002
LOBBY OF M.P.’S
It is most important that members lobby their MP’s and
inform them of the REAL facts about the Fire Service today. Members
should attend the House of Commons and make representation to
their MP’s from Monday.
Travel costs will be met.A Regional delegation representing all
areas will also be attending the Commons but it is VITAL that
delegations attend Parliament this week and next to put their
points to MP’s.
YOUR MP MUST HEAR FROM YOU.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FIRE COVER REVIEW?
Members have every right to ask, on each and every occasion,
what has happened to the Governments Pathfinder/Fire Cover Review?
In April we were told that the UK Fire Service needed to double
in size AT LEAST.
Now, here we are 7 months on, and what has happened? The Governments
investigations have been shelved and we find, for some unknown
reason, that far from needing the 100% INCREASE in Firefighters
that was needed in April; they say we actually need a DECREASE
of at least 20%!
WHAT SORT OF LOGIC ARE THIS GOVERNMENT
APPLYING TO PUBLIC SAFETY?
LONDON DEMONSTRATION
There will be a demonstration in London on 7th December from noon.
Travel arrangements are being notified by Bridge Officials to Branches.
All members should make EVERY effort to attend this demonstration
to show the Government that we are united in our fight for a fair
rate of pay and to maintain the number of fire stations, control
staff and firefighters we have.
MEDIA QUESTIONSThere have been the same questions coming
up time and again from the media. I understand that this is due
to their lack of knowledge of the role and function of the Fire
Service and the actual job and pay of Firefighters. However the
following will help all of us.
Whenever YOU see an inaccurate press report on for example the pay
of a Firefighter, let them know. Write phone and email them. Is
it accurate reporting for example to quote a ‘Firefighter’ as earning
£21,531 a year but a ‘newly qualified nurse’ earning say £17,000
a year. IF, as is happening all too often, they use a qualified
Firefighters rate for years 4 – 15 yet a nurses pay at the 6 month
rate then tell them.
Bullet Points to get across: • What happened
to the Fire Cover Review?
• WE have no fear of modernisation for us in fact we have been
doing it for 25 years. It’s simply the case that we have not been
paid for ANY modernisation we have done
• £21,531 is for a FULLY QUALIFIED Firefighter for up to
15 years and there is NO ADDITIONAL pay at all.
• £21,531 is MAXIMUM pay not starting or average.
• Modernisation in the NHS led to people lying on trolleys in
corridors for 24 hours at a time. Is that modernisation?
• Modernisation in Schools led to poorly built schools, examination
fiascos, and the need to use unqualified staff in classrooms.
Is that modernisation?
• Modernisation on Railways led to several disasters and many
deaths. A truly modernised railway would have systems in place
NOW to stop red light jumping and safety breaches. Why has that
not been done? Costs? Is that modernisation which is acceptable?
• Firefighters work along side each other every hour of the day.
NOT ONLY Part Time and Full Time, but officers on the flexi duty
system, day staffed officers, and those on principle officers
rotas. It is NOT true we do not work together.
MODERNISATION
OUR Modernisation:
The Public protected 24 hours a day by fully trained Firefighters
in sufficient numbers to do all that is required of them working
to safe procedures and following agreed safe practices.
GOVERNMENT Modernisation
The minimum number of Firefighters in place to crew appliances
on a first call basis. The lowest number to be on duty for the
frequency of calls regardless of the nature or type of calls for
which an attendance is likely. Second and subsequent calls not
factored into numbers required.
OUR Modernisation
Calls handled by skilled operators on pay parity with Firefighters
dedicated to the immediate response required by those in danger
from fire or other incident which the fire service attend. Operators
to be skilled in their job and staff levels sufficient to ensure
public protection at all times.
GOVERNMENT Modernisation
Remote call centres staffed by multi skilled, lower paid operators
who handle all calls with costs the overall factor in setting
staff levels dependant on demand and frequency of calls spread
over a day. Less operators on duty when frequency dips regardless
of workload imposed by large incidents and multiple incidents/calls.
OUR Modernisation
Life as the primary factor in establishing the Fire Service needed
to protect people.
GOVERNMENT Modernisation
Cost the primary factor in implementing a reduced a Fire Service
with resources targeted to protect areas where property density
is at its highest.
OUR Modernisation
Part Time Firefighters fully trained in all Firefighting skills
to the same level as Full Time Firefighters with parity of pay.
Their skills recognised and life risk the driving factor in numbers
and location.
GOVERNMENT Modernisation
Part Time Firefighters paid lower rates and trained to a lesser
degree used to provide the cheapest possible service based on
property density.
OUR Modernisation
Full Time Firefighters paid for their professional skills working
to safe procedures and able to respond immediately to incidents
based on the risk to life in any area.
GOVERNMENT Modernisation
Full Time Firefighters underpaid but able to do even more hours
than the 48 on a tour of duty at present by doing overtime. Some
selected Firefighters being paid for other tasks but all those
skills attained to date not paid for. Longer working hours to
be established rather than the shift to the European model of
reducing workloads to ensure better quality of life and better
health.
WE WILL MODERNISE THE FIRE SERVICE.
WE WANT A BETTER SERVICE FOR THE PUBLIC
The ‘modernised’ control room
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY DIAL 999
You will be given the following instructions:
IF YOU NEED THE FIRE BRIGADE PLEASE
PRESS 1
IF YOU NEED THE POLICE PLEASE
PRESS 2
IF YOU NEED AN AMBULANCE PLEASE
PRESS 3
IF HOWEVER YOU ARE HAVING A HEART-ATTACK YOU CAN HAVE THE CHOICE
OF
PRESSING 1 OR 3
IF YOU HAVE PRESSED 1 AND IT IS AFTER 6.00PM THEN YOU SHOULD
BE PREPARED TO WAIT UNTIL A FULL FIRE CREW HAVE ARRIVED AT THEIR
NEAREST STATION.
IF YOU HAVE PRESSED 1 AND THE FIRE IS MAJOR AND IT IS AFTER
6.00PM THEN PLEASE ENSURE ANY GARDEN HOSES ARE READY FOR USE
AS ONLY ONE FIRE APPLIANCE WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU.
IF YOU HAVE PRESSED 1 AND SOMEONE IS TRAPPED IN THE FIRE
YOU ARE REPORTING AND IT IS AFTER 6.00PM PLEASE ENSURE TOWELS
ARE SOAKED IN COLD WATER AND THAT A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC IS
PREPARED TO GO INTO THE FIRE TO RESCUE ANY FIREFIGHTERS WHO
MAY GET INTO TROUBLE. THIS IS BECAUSE ONLY ONE BREATHING APPARATUS
CREW WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU.
IF YOU HAVE PRESSED 3 AND YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE IS HAVING
A HEART ATTACK DO NOT BE SURPRISED IF THE AMBULANCE YOU EXPECT
LOOKS A BIT LIKE A FIRE APPLIANCE. YOU CAN STILL BE RESUSCITATED
BUT WILL HOWEVER BE REQUIRED TO HOLD TIGHT ON TOP OF THE APPLIANCE
ON ROUTE TO THE HOSPITAL. (Seats inside are reserved for crewmembers
only.)
IF YOU HAVE PRESSED 1 2 AND 3 THEN PLEASE ENSURE
ALL INSURANCE POLICIES ARE IN ORDER . ON DOING SO YOU WILL HEAR
THE MESSAGE
"PLEASE HOLD THE LINE WHILE WE TRY TO CONNECT YOU.
THE PERSON YOU ARE CALLING KNOWS YOU ARE DYING."
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Members will be looking forward to being back on the run tomorrow.
But what does the immediate future hold?
The planned periods of action forced on us are still all live. We
are however MORE THAN WILLING to talk to anyone who can make a decision
and abide by it.
We do not want to have to enter the next period of strike action
but we will do whatever it takes to win a fair rate of pay and ensure
the public are protected by a Fire Service which provides protection
to them 24 hours a day for years to come.
The next 8 day period starts on Wednesday and we will look at what
other action we need to take a full report of which will be given
to you by your officials locally in the coming week.
CAPS TEE SHIRTS ETC
There are no more caps and tee shirts. However we are looking at
regional purchases where possible and IF there is no overall outlay.
Enamel badges are now in limited stock at £2 each from me.
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
Y...because
we're worth
it! |
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