NE W S R E L E A S E FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY 21 JANUARY 2003
FIRE SERVICE DISPUTE "IMPLEMENTING BAIN REPORT WOULD RESULT IN PEOPLE DYING WHO WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE LIVED" SAYS STUC
Commenting on today's fire service strike, STUC General Secretary, Bill Speirs, said:
"Scotland's trade unionists know that this dispute would have been settled months ago were it not for Downing Street intervention by people who loath trade unions and trade unionism - not least because the sight of people acting collectively reminds them of what they used to stand for themselves.
"Let's be clear. The FBU stands for improved fire cover, and modernisation which puts people before property in emergencies. The Bain Report, which the Government is insisting must be implemented in full, without amendment, would result in people dying who would otherwise have lived.
"That's why the STUC, speaking on behalf of 620,000 Scottish union members and their families, stands alongside the FBU. Those families, every one of them, will be at risk if Bain is forced through."
Bill Speirs FOR FURTHER COMMENT, CONTACT: