Firefighter • November/December 2014
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The magazine of the Fire Brigades Union STOP PRESS PENSIONS: FOUR DAY STRIKE CALLED > www.fbu.org.uk November/December 2014 GENERAL SECRETARY’S COMMENT Matt Wrack Government robbery continues – four day strike called Pensions “My goal is clear: to get the best deal possible for firefighters and resolve this dispute.” Those were the words about the pensions dispute that Penny Mordaunt, the Westminster fire minister, wrote to all firefighters in August. The FBU negotiations team was told that the minister Matt Wrack joins Ring of Fire campaigners in Watford was speaking to others in government to see what could of strike action. We are also and on our conditions. certainly allowed us to bring be done to resolve this dispute. preparing the next round of our During the run-up to the our message to new audiences The Department for political and legal challenges to next general election in May – as can be seen from the Communities and Local these attacks. 2015 trade unionists will no numbers who viewed Russell Government negotiators asked We need to stand strong doubt face this kind of political Brand’s online report. the FBU to provide drafts for and stand united. Please follow and media onslaught as our If you weren’t able to make pension regulations which they developments and ensure opponents try to create the any of the events there’s a said they were now considering you support the campaign on circumstances for yet another chance to catch up with the from a legal point of view. picket lines or in our political round of attacks on the rights action on pages 10–13. However, at our most recent campaigning. of workers and of trade unions. meeting with the minister, TTIP no revised proposals were Carr report – yet another Membership benefits The disastrous Transatlantic offered. I know all fire- attack on the FBU We have recently negotiated Trade and Investment fighters will be outraged. A report published last month a number of new benefits for Partnership being negotiated in We have been by the government has accused members which now include secret by the European Union patient, we have a number of trade unions, health, shopping and insurance and US would, if agreed, have always been willing to including our own, of so-called costs. I recommend that all major implications for all UK negotiate and we have “extreme tactics” in industrial members check these out and public services including the always acted with complete and political campaigning. see how you can take advantage fire and rescue service. integrity – as the public These claims are based on at www.fbu.org.uk/membership MPs will be asked to nod would expect from firefighters. unsubstantiated allegations through any agreement, but This government may praise and, in some cases, criticism Ring of Fire some parts of it could come us when we respond to major of campaigning methods I was very pleased to speak at a into force without even this incidents but their actions which are perfectly lawful number of Ring of Fire events minimal scrutiny. demonstrate utter contempt and acceptable. that took place up and down In short, it would give multi- for firefighters and the work of The report, by barrister the country over September national corporations the right our service. Bruce Carr QC, is a smear job and October. to carve up all public services That is why, at the same on a number of trade unions. The London show was and sue the government if they time as attacking our pensions, It is no accident that the attended by comedian do not make enough money they are forcing through the FBU has been included. It Russell Brand who featured from the deal. biggest cuts in the history of is because we have dared to the event in his online TTIP is a threat to public the fire service in the UK. stand up and challenge the news show The Trews. This sector workers and taxpayers As Firefighter goes to press, government and our employers approach was different to alike and the FBU will be firefighters in England are over the pension attacks and how other campaigns have campaigning with other unions preparing to take four days over local attacks on the service been conducted. However, it to oppose it. Published by the Fire Brigades Union, Bradley House, 68 Coombe Road, Kingston upon Thames KT2 7AE • www.fbu.org.uk Design: editionpublishing.co.uk • Print: Southernprint Ltd, 17–21 Factory Road, Poole, BH16 5SN • Cover images (some): Stefano Cagnoni/reportdigital.co.uk 2 FireFighter November/December 2014 THIS MONTH Contents Pensions dispute: The FBU will continue to Pensions, pay use every tool at its disposal – continuing negotiations, political and the future action, legal action and industrial action of our service 14 ANDREW WIARDANDREW Translation of 7 message of solidarity to the FBU from the Union Nacional de Empleados/National Union of Employees (UNE) Nicaragua Brothers and sisters I am writing to you to express greetings and solidarity on behalf of the public sector UNE, a sister trade union which has undergone many years of struggle. We are convinced that the problems of the world – poverty, hunger and unem- ployment combined with low wages and the failure to comply with collective agreements – are the result of an exploitative capitalist model which promotes inequality and exclusion. The working class, our organisations and our members must fight FBU members and the union blimp took part in TUC demonstrations to demand pay rises together to combat this and to as new figures showed that living standards since 2008 have fallen further than at any build a just and equal society. time since the 1870s Today we want to express our solidarity with the just fight News Regulars of firefighters in the UK who are 4 FBU condemns government 5 Sounding off having to fight against the UK’s report on unions Farewell to Kerry Baigent neo-liberal government led by 5 Fire authority pushes through plans it 7 Focus that faithful servant of savage knows will increase response times Why austerity must end capitalism David Cameron. Mayor ‘playing politics’ with lockout plans More than ever it is 8 Aerial ladder platform Misgivings as Ashley Brown case settled 6 FBU members’ role in fight against apartheid necessary to mobilise in the Brigades merger warning streets of the UK to demand 18 Health and safety New FBU courses policies which will eliminate In brief A union guide to stress social inequality and to 19 Legal Beagle demand decent wages and the Social media, you and the law Features implementation of collective 10 Ring of Fire 20 Day off bargaining agreements. Tour highlights damage to How Glen Gorman is benefitting from a union-backed learning course Victory is not something we service across country can achieve alone – the trade 14 Pensions dispute 22 Puzzles union struggle is global and we Copies of London Recruits to be won The campaign continues remain in solidarity with you. 16 Transatlantic trade 23 Station Cat Long live the UK working class The news they don’t want you to hear Partnership deal would curb rights Long live the FBU and boost privatisation 24 25-year badges November/December 2014 FireFighter 3 News November/December 2014 FBU condemns government’s union report as a Tory smear said: “This review, a taxpayer-funded party wins next year’s general election. Union law exercise on behalf of the Tory party, is a Francis Maude, minister for the cabinet A government report on industrial series of smears against the Fire Brigades office and paymaster general, stated again action by trade union members has been Union and the entire UK trade union that the next Tory government would ban described as a smear against the entire movement, just as we predicted it would be strikes that were not supported in a ballot trade union movement by the FBU. when it was first announced. with a turnout of more than 50%; would The Carr review, which was commis- “This hatchet job barely mentions the require unions to undertake expensive sioned after a dispute at the Grangemouth victimisation FBU members have suffered balloting for each industrial action taken; refinery in Scotland earlier this year, reaches when undertaking campaigning or strike and would continue slashing trade union conclusions on a number of issues hinting action and ignores evidence of the extreme facilities in the public sector. at law changes that would further hit trade tactics used by some employers throughout These attacks on unions came at the union campaigning and representation, recent disputes. same time that Elizabeth Truss, secretary including banning strikes in emergency “The Carr report is a cynical Tory of state for environment, told conference services like fire and rescue. publicity stunt, predictably published when that she wanted to protect the country The report accuses unions, midwives, health and other public service against the “ravages” of climate change including the FBU, of intimidating workers have been forced into industrial and flooding. non-striking workers and managers action by a government continually Wrack said: “This proves that the during industrial disputes. attacking their pay and conditions.” government want firefighters to do more, Bruce Carr QC, the author of Trade union rights in the UK are with fewer resources and don’t want to the report, said in August that it would some of the most restrictive in the hear from us when we raise how dangerous not make any specific recommenda- Western world and it was made clear cuts to the service really are. tions to changes in the law because of a at this years’ annual Conservative “It’s clear that if the Tories win the next “politicised” background.