Why the firefighters are on strike

FEATURE writer Frank Elson joined the picket line at Farnworth Fire Station to talk to the strikers about the reasons for the dispute.

THERE are two braziers outside Farnworth fire station, but I needed them more than the firefighters. Indignation -- and perhaps lots of layers of warm clothing -- are keeping the pickets warm.

They have a camping cooker providing a succession of hot cups of tea and coffee as well -- the strikers are most certainly going to stay comfortable.

I introduced myself and was immediately surrounded by firemen quite prepared to answer my questions.

First of all they did ask that I made the point that they are actually willing to work for nothing during the strike.

They are ensuring that there are enough of them at all times to man appliances if a serious fire, car accident or similar emergency is life threatening.

"We are trying to put the message out to as many people as possible. We want to assure the people of Farnworth that we will not leave lives at risk," said Eric Waddington.

As we talked, most of the cars, vans and trucks passing us were sounding their horns, the sound being greeted by cheerful waves from the firefighters.

Morale is still high at Farnworth, although the strikers are anxious to point out that they believe they are getting a raw deal from television and the national press.

"It's about far more than a 40 per cent wage claim and they know it, but that's not what they are telling the public," added Eric.

"Loads of people sound their horns and some stop to tell us how much they support us. We then try to explain exactly what this dispute is about and ask them to pass the message on."

Another picket line member, Ian Griffiths, said: "The figures the Government are putting out don't add up. Yes, on the surface our basic pay seems a lot more than a nurse, for example. But I know a nurse who, with unsocial hours and weekend pay takes home more than I do.

"The Government doesn't tell anyone that. We just want our pay structure to be brought into line with the other professions such as the police -- who also get overtime and unsocial hours pay -- and nurses."

The issue of modernisation brought out the first real signs of anger from the men.

They accept that there will be some re-organisation of the service, but were scornful of the Bain Report which, they claim, is the basis for the Government's modernisation plans.

"The Bain Report was written by someone with no knowledge of how the Fire Service works," said Ian Murray. "For instance, he suggests that part-time and full-time firemen should work on the same appliance.

"Part-timers have five minutes to get to the station -- so he is suggesting full-time, already on-duty firemen should sit on an appliance waiting five minutes for a part-timer to arrive? When we could be off to the incident instead?

"The main issue is, of course, are firemen paid enough for the job we do? That's the bottom line, but there are so many other issues -- about the ban on overtime, wanting to cut down how many of us work nights and the part-time issue -- that we are fighting as well.

"Nobody here wants to be on strike," said another fireman to a chorus of agreement from his colleagues crowding around. "Our job is to protect the public and that's what we want to be doing. But this situation has been forced on us. We feel it has been manufactured by the Government for their own ends.

"This is the same Government who paid themselves an extra 40 per cent and offered GPs and consultants 19 per cent."

The strikers are anxious that they retain the support of the public. They gave me a leaflet which they are handing out to the public to try to explain what this dispute is about.

Gordon Stansfield said: "Out of the tax payers' money that the Government gives the Fire Authority, they have to pay us, train us and buy all the equipment that we use.

"We are paid to fight fires.

"Of course, over the years we have also been trained and equipped -- there is a new Chemical Spillage vehicle around the back now -- for a multitude of other tasks which include road traffic accidents, flooding, trauma care and first aid, gas leaks, sewer rescues, stuck lifts, train crashes, and animals in distress.

"It's not that we don't want to do any of these things, but we are not paid to do them and the local authorities are not given any extra cash.

"The Government's plan for 'modernisation' is to cut down on staff -- at nights and overall. They still expect us to cover all those incidents, of course, and to do it for the same basic wage.

"Don't forget we have no overtime, we earn no more for working nights and no more for working weekends.

"There is a report called the Fire Cover Review which the Government has decided not to publish -- although it can be found on their website.

"It says that the Fire Service needs 100 per cent more staff and that funding needs to be four times greater than it is now."

"Ask yourself: Do you really want the Government to 'modernise' the Fire Service in the same way that they have modernised the National Health Service and the Police?"

GOVERNMENT PLAN

The introduction of medical training to Paramedic standard

The abolition of the overtime ban

The reduction in numbers of firefighters on night duty

The merger of control rooms with the police and ambulance services

Full and part-time firefighters to work together on the same appliance