NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2002
"STUC 100% BEHIND FIREFIGHTERS BAIN REPORT A CHARTER FOR DEMORALISATION" SAYS STUC
When news broke of the breakdown in negotiations between Firefighters and local authority Councillors (their employers) following the publication of the Downing Street-initiated Bain Report, STUC General Secretary, Bill Speirs, said:
"The so-called independent Bain Report can now be seen for what it really is, and those of us who were privately asking the Fire Brigades Union if they were wise not to co-operate with it have our answer it is a charter for privatisation and demoralisation of the fire service.
"The report states that it is not possible to subdivide the reform package and
take some measures but not others' (para 38). So Firefighters are being told
that they must reduce darkness-hours cover, return to the days ofpre-
planned' overtime on top of a 48 hour shift and provide `voluntary' cover when
off duty in return for a non-negotiable wage increase of 4% (£10 a week),
not the 11% being spun by the employers, and certainly not the 16% being
floated to them by the Councillors before Downing Street intervened two
months ago.
"Can anyone not understand why they will be willing to go on strike tomorrow?
"The STUC General Council stands 100% behind the Firefighters. In view of the clear desire of the employers to turn public opinion against them, and their own desire to advance their case without harming the public, we will be speaking urgently to the FBU leadership over the next 48 hours about how the wider Trade Union Movement can be of assistance."
For further information and comment, contact:
Bill Speirs