To: ALL MEMBERS SOUTHERN REGION

From: DEAN MILLS

MEMBERS UPDATE: 10th January 2003

As I said in the last update we cannot assume silence is golden. Despite what some believed it is now clear that it was, and is not, as far as this Government are concerned.

At today’s meeting in London delegates from across the UK heard Andy Gilchrist say that after months of deliberation the employers had outlined an unrealistic and unacceptable offer significantly lower than that which the Government had previously stopped in July and again in November.

We have now been offered 4% if we ‘unreservedly’ sign up to the Bain report. A further 7% will only be offered when the audit commissioned are satisfied that the Bain proposals have been fully implemented. This will not be a 7% increase in pay but on the total pay bill. The difference is that some could get nothing at all leaving a 4% increase all they receive for 2 years.

Delegates also had made clear to them other ideas the Government have. A 2% reduction in staff year on year resulting in up to 5,000 job losses and NO reassurance from Government that there will be no redundancies.

The other proposals outlined and also being pushed forward in the House of Commons are:

• A new pension for recruits

• Changes to our pension scheme for those already in

• Scrapping section 19 appeals so there will be no say by local people or the FBU who want to fight station closures or job and appliance losses

• The CFBAC to be scrapped

• No NJC and therefore no negotiations at a national level

• No right to stop station closures or defend conditions by the right to strike

We will continue to work for a fair and negotiated settlement. Unfortunately the employer’s side seem to be puppets of the Government. This Government act in an ever more autocratic manner. A reporter today on Radio 4 was asked for his opinion on the present situation. He was baffled by the Governments position and stated that they could easily settle the dispute. I agree with him.

I believe every member will be stunned at the Governments response. On the eve of ACAS talks they informed us that the position set out above was non-negotiable and then Nick Raynsford had the audacity to say we had not gone to ACAS for the ‘negotiations’.

Why on earth would any minister believe we or any organization or individual would go into ‘meaningful’ negotiations only to be told at the doorway that what was to be discussed was in fact ‘non negotiable’. By this action the Government have shown beyond any doubt at all that they have plans for the Fire Service and we are standing in their way.

We now have a strike date for 21st January in addition to those already planned.
The tactics and ideas of members have been discussed and your thoughts taken up by head office. We now need to plan further.

• MP’s and Councilors still to be lobbied

• Strike Meetings to be run on stations

• LOCAL trade unions to be approached and talks given

• Fund raising to be increased

• A discussion on Campaign Lines to be had on Branches

These 5 items are simply the next step for this week.

There will be further updates to follow and if YOU have not yet added your name to the email update list for regular updates and reports do it today.

Fraternally

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