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| pay campaign 2002 | ||
| To: ALL MEMBERS SOUTHERN
REGION From: DEAN MILLS MEMBERS UPDATE: 20th January 2003 NOTHING On the eve of this next strike day what have the Government offered us and the public? NOTHING! We have the ‘offer’ of job cuts and station closures as a way to fund an increase in the pay bill. We are in effect being told that if we make cuts to the service we give the public any money saved can be shared out between us. This is not only morally wrong it is factually incorrect. If as has been stated that we get an offer of an increase in the pay bill of say 7% later this year by the time the adjustment to pay for part time members is made we will be left with less than 3% as a ‘rise.’ The Government also say that skills will be paid for. This being the case how will the remaining sub-3% be shared out? It certainly wont be fairly and it is not even clear what is to be classed as a skill, whether those we already have will finally be paid for and how firefighters and control staff in future will be selected to learn skills to attract more pay. What does this all add up to? A very small amount for a few people and for the rest of us: NOTHING. We have been asked again if we will respond to incident from the picket line. I understand the pressure put on members whilst on the picket line to respond. So far the Government have simply used this humanitarian response to further beat us with. They have said we have done it for publicity! They have said we called off strikes not for negotiation purposes, but because we are greedy and wanted to be paid over Christmas and the New Year. Is it any wonder at all that members are questioning why responses were made from the campaign lines last time? I have no doubt at all that the actions of this government and their continued spin on the humanitarian responses made will ensure that members are far less likely to respond this time round. I have been asked three times today if we will respond to terrorist threats and actions such as chemical attack. The question that should be put back to the same reporters as well as Government is why do we not get paid for those skills at all for the rest of the year? We are told our skills are vital in such circumstances. Isn’t it about time we were paid for them or should we continue to accept NOTHING? Campaign Lines: Keep them open and a focal point and then decide if you can be deployed to better effect by getting our message on modernisation on pay and the service directly to the public. On the Campaign line and when talking to the public we must remind them of a 6 facts about our service and dispute: 1 Why is the full Fire Cover Review not published and implementedThe public in fact have a choice to make. Do they want a Fire Service for tomorrow run to save bricks and mortar, or a service to save and protect lives? If they want the latter than they will only get it by supporting us today. The Government are saying they will consider making striking illegal in the Fire Service. Now not only are we all left wing Scargillites; Not only are we greedy, but we are also criminals. If we had any more character defects we would be eligible to stand for election to Parliament. CFO’s and employers continue to give support to us behind closed doors. Some have come out openly. To all those who support us in the protection of the Service. Don’t do it behind closed doors, come out and add your voice to ours. We will win this dispute but it will be done more quickly with all sections of the Fire Service working together to the same goal not working in isolation even if the aim is very similar. Campaign Badges still on sale £2 each or in lots of 100. Unity is Strength. Dean Mills
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