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Reports from Firefighters strike in Scotland national |
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news report
 Tuesday November 19, 2002 13:55 by OK - SP/CWI
 Members of the International Socialists (CWI Scotland) report from the picketlines in Scotland during the recent Firefighters strike in the UK. On the picket line in Scotland At 6.OOpm exactly, the red doors of the fire station opened and 2 lines of fire-fighters marched out to form a guard of honour for the FBU banner. It was carried by veterans of the last strike in 1977. SSP members cheered, holding up placards announcing full support for the strike and the pay claim. We were invited by FBU Branch Secretary Jim Malone, who had earlier explained the reasons for the strike to an SSP branch meeting. After the media left, we got talking to fire-fighters about their concerns. A driver with only 2 years service left said that he would not benefit for long from a pay award but was fighting "for the future generations of fire-fighters." The mood was extremely confident and determined. All the fire-fighters stressed that the Bain report was an insult, and striking was their last option. Cars going past tooted in support. Over the next 2 days, we continued to attend the picket lines. Jim Malone our support had been "superb". "The strike has been absolutely solid. We are prepared for a long drawn out dispute if it comes to that. But I do think that between now and next week there is a window of opportunity." He explained that this had to involve a serious offer on pay for negotiations to succeed. Jim explained to us that firefighters were determined that their campaign for decent pay would benefit all public sector workers. He welcomed support and encouraged people to attend picket lines and discuss with firefighters. On the safety issues he told us that "it has been the firefighters themselves that have had to fight to ensure they had the best equipment and training over the years. It is sheer hypocrisy for politicians to now be showing concern on that point." "Every proposed modernisation carried out in the fire service has come from the FBU themselves not the employers or government. " Jim Malone also made the important point that: "The Bain report is a preparation for privatisation. No way is it independent. The Labour Research report, which was independent, came up with the £30,000 figure." Fire-fighter Paddy Connelly spoke at length about the years of training which is required to become a fire-fighter. One example he gave was the cutting gear used to free car crash victims. Although the young soldiers on the green goddesses could be shown how to use the gear to cut metal in a couple of days, this would not prepare them for a rescue. The order in which the parts of the vehicle is cut, how the victim is supported during the attempt, and other factors take a long time to learn. Of great importance is the way an experienced team work together to fight fires and save lives. Whatever happens next, the fire-fighters deserve the full support of the entire working class. Harvey Duke I work as ateacher in the local Brannock High School in Newarthill. As soon as the strike started I typed up a letter of solidarity and 39 members of the teachers union, the EIS signed in support of the striking firefighters. I took it to the picket line and the firefighters were delighted. It turns out I taught one of the FBU member at school. Colin Mackie told me that "We have had great public support and it's very encouraging. We've had people bringing us hot rolls and food while we're on the picket lines." The next day in school his son came up to me and said the firefighters had been delighted by the letter of support from the teachers in the school and wanted to sign the letter of support themselves. Ray Gunnion, Bellshill We have also drawn up a resolution (see below) to go to the Glasgow UNISON Social Work AGM in support of the firefighters. Brian Smith, Castlemilk This meeting believes that the Government has intervened on at least two occasions to undermine the negotiations between the FBU and the national employers. The first to avoid an improvement on the employers original 4% offer, and the second to push the "modernisation" of the Fire Service. This modernisation represents nothing more than an attack on firefighters conditions of service and lays the basis for the privatisation of key elements of the Fire Service. The Government seems intent on picking a fight with one of the strongest and best organised trade unions. A victory for the firefighters will be a victory for all workers in the public sector. Social workers, teachers, nurses, clericals, support workers, home helps and domestics should also be paid a fair wage for the services they provide. This meeting is clear that the money exists to pay public sector workers a fair wage. It is a choice. Fat cat salaries, tax cuts for the rich, the bombing of Iraq, inflation busting pay rises for MPs and new Parliament buildings or fair pay for those who provide services to our communities and modernisation that does not mean cost cutting and privatisation. The dispute is key in the fight for fair wages across the public sector and this meeting urges all Glasgow City Unison members to assist the firefighters in their current struggle. All members should argue the case of the firefighters, give what financial support they can and get involved in local FBU support groups.
Dundee In my Union branch, it was myself and other CWI members that proposed that our policy should be that UNISON members would not provide firewatch cover during the strike. Management wanted members to work overtime to stay in empty buildings overnight. We also successfully proposed that a firefighter is invited to speak at our next meeting and that we offer support where we can. We have forced management to ensure that all Health & Safety evacuation regulations were in place for the strike and that all risk and fire assessments were done to ensure the safety of our members and service users, much to their annoyance. We have demanded copies of all assessments. Jim McFarlane
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Comments (21 of 21)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21It is also a reprint. It will be deleted.
This has something t do with Ireland. Apart from the struggles of the British working class being our struggles, a defeat for Blairs government would be a victory for the workers movement internationally.
In case you havn't noticed the Firefighters are also on strike in the North. So it is relevant to Ireland as the strike is in Ireland
It seems the Shinners (or at least some of their supporters) are opposed to the firefighters.
If SF are a workers party, What exactly have SF done to show their solidarity with these workers?
Why not post this story as a link and summary?
And why not just add it as a comment to the story about the firefighters that was posted a couple of days ago?
It really is not possible to parody Ray.
In case you have forgotten the Firefighters in the North were on strike alongside their comrades in Britain. In fact NI had a very high vote to go on strike.
The reports on the strike in Scotland is worthy to be on Indymedia. It's far more worthy than some of the sectarian shite that gets put up most of the time!
It's interesting that someone has questioned Sinn Féin's attitude to the Firefighters strike. What is their position? They will probably oppose it because the North's firefighters are in the UK union!!
1. For future reference, most of yese are either activists or members of an organisation or party with its own newspaper. There's nothing to stop your paper, or you on its behalf, ringing the SF press office on this issue and writing an article about it. That's what it's there for. If you're not sure what SF's position is, ring and ask.
2. SF has stated publically that we support the firefighters claims, that we believe that without the trained professionals that make up the fire service nothing the government of the Six offers comes close to providing full cover and we have urged that it be brought to resolution with all possible speed.
If SF support the firefighters could someone please outline exactly what SF have done to mobilise support for the firefighters? With the base SF have in working class areas SF could have helped build for a one day public sector strike in solidarity with the firefighters.
I may be wrong but from what I read in the papers, the firefighters are infact employed by local government. If stormont was not suspended and SF were in government, SF would be the employers, in this situation would you have been supporting the firefighters?
This was the case with the NIPSA termtime workers and SF forced them out on strike and wouldn't give an inch until you were forced to.
its yet another anti republican attack.
incidentally during the last firefighters strike, the ira did not carry out attacks on any british soldiers who were operating fire equipment.
the ira stated this was done in support of the strikers. the ira knew that such attacks would be used by the state & media to undermine the strikers position.
(no doubt some ultra-lefts will say the ira should have shothe scabs)
"If SF support the firefighters could someone please outline exactly what SF have done to mobilise support for the firefighters?"
No. For several reasons, first off, I honestly don't know, I work for Dublin Sinn Féin, if you want answer Finhghin, contact Belfast SF or the press office up there. I'm not here to wander about asking questions for Millies.
Secondly, I get a bit sick and tired of micro-left demanding what has *insert name here* done about X? Simple fact is that smaller parties can drop everything else and throw themselves into one issue. We don't have the luxury of doing that. Currently, in Dublin we're concentrating on a campaign on the Peace Process and preparing for two other campaigns, fundraising for the C3 and a couple of other things. As well as that we run constituency clinics, constituency based campaigns etc. etc. Simply because you guys have found a new fad to adopt doesn't mean we drop everything and run to tag along. The days when we do things simply because Trots think it's a good idea are long gone.
"With the base SF have in working class areas"
With the base you have in Dublin you could have done something, anything on sectarianism. I don't go mental when yese don't turn up because I figure you've prioritised other things.
SF could have helped build for a one day public sector strike in solidarity with the firefighters.
Justin claims that the "micro-left" flit from issue to issue because they are not involved in real work. That is a characteristic of the SWP not the Socialist Party.
The SP are involved in community work, trade union work, work among the youth and in the colleges. Our members do not ditch campaigns to flit onto another just so that we can opportunisticly sell more papers and recruit! that's the SWP.
The Socialist Party do have a base in the working class (although admittedly a lot smaller than SF). We do use that base to raise a range of issues.
I'm sorry about this but this is really sad. Every discussion seems to degenerate into a personalised rant by either of the different groups. i'm no liberal and agree with a good discussion which can get to the bottom of the matter, if a polemic is employed so be it. but this shite is getting boring.
I've only recently started looking at this site, but it appears the same people are coming on and having a go at each other.
pat c you say the ira did the right thing by not bombing etc, what about the harm the ira has done for class unity in both the north and in britain or the many ordinary workers they have killed in the process. Bullshit - the ira are no more than thugs who are out to protect their own interests.
Also justin you say SF have got other campaigns etc. I do recognise. Grand. But don't criticise the likes of the SP for dropping campaigns. BIn Tax. The reality is that SF have done nothing of any substance on this issue. No building the campaign, no understanding of how to defeat the tax. just plain and simple sloganising. It doesn't achieve a thing. remember who defeated the water tax.
"pat c you say the ira did the right thing by not bombing etc, what about the harm the ira has done for class unity in both the north and in britain or the many ordinary workers they have killed in the process. Bullshit - the ira are no more than thugs who are out to protect their own interests."
you've got me, how can i reply. no point in suggesting british imperialism was in anyway reponsible. that they did their divide & conquer act as they have done the world over.
i wont say anything about the mnillions of workers & peasants killed by imperialism & their puppets thriughout the world during he period of the iras armed struggle.
of course - the ira are just thugs. you are so right
Justin said
"With the base you have in Dublin you could have done something, anything on sectarianism. I don't go mental when yese don't turn up because I figure you've prioritised other things."
Justin the reality is that the SP are the only party to take up the issue of sectarianism in a non-sectarian fashion. Just because SF organise a protest against sectarianism and the SP doesn't attend, that does not mean we don't campaign on the issue of sectarianism (eg School Students against Sectarianism). We regard it as a contradiction that a sectarian party calls an anti-sectarian demo etc. Just like the working class of the north ignored the so-called anti-sectarian demo called by Alex maskey and Belfast City Council.
For example, within the Trade Union movement in the North, the only party that has successfully raised issues like sectarianism and state repression has been the SP. SF has singularly failed to do so. In fact SF work hand in hand with the TRade Union bureaucracy not only in the North but on the island as a whole.
By the way, seen as you raised the issue of SF's international links maybe you will find the time to respond to the comments I made.
I don't claim that simply because the SP don't turn up to a meeting we organise on sectarianism that they don't give a shit or that they are pro-sectarianism. I know the excuse yese use and I don't accept it because the SP in Dublin don't organise events themselves on the North but that is NOT AN ATTACK. No party or organisation can campaign on everything. So the SP in Dublin campaigns on some things, prioritises a few issues over others. I haven't seen the SP go mad over exploitation of mineral resources in the West but I don't assume that's because they're secretly paid by American corporations. I just accept that it's not an area they're strong on, just like I accept the SP is far more influential in Trade Unions north and south. In conclusion, to paraphrase some-one further up the thread, cop on a wee bit. This isn't about mindless point scoring over each other. I'm a republican, you're Socialist Party. Nothing you say could make me support your analysis and vice versa so why waste time trying to piss each other off? I mean do you really have nothing else to do?
As for the response on international links, I'll respond to it, and the tedious mind-numbing bitch session can continue. Frankly, after posting on it once I never bothered to go back and see if you'd responded.
"you've got me, how can i reply. no point in suggesting british imperialism was in anyway reponsible. that they did their divide & conquer act as they have done the world over.
i wont say anything about the mnillions of workers & peasants killed by imperialism & their puppets thriughout the world during he period of the iras armed struggle."
Yes British imperialism was responsible. but what you seem unable to comprehend is how do you best fight it.
Would a social movement which took up class issues which united both the catholic and protestant workers (who have more in common) not be more of a threat to the British ruling class. The ira allowed the british state to bring in repressive legistation which was used against all, including socialists.
The question is how to fight back. I'm sure sitting in front of your computer you feel like a real revolutionary. Fuck off and die.
Justin - time on his hands. Every where one goes on this site they are met by you. You must do nothing in your dail office.
Aaah Jaysus! Now if I'd known that!
Come ere you wouldn't do us an oul favour would ya?
Finghin,
Couldn't you get your fella in QUB to have a word with the British Army to intervene in the fire-fighters' dispute. I'm told he's on awfully good terms with them.
Just a thought.
I think DLR gave you your answer about who spends time on this site.
Just a comment about your reply to my international links question.
I do not expect to convince you about anything. You are well encamped in Sinn Fein. I think if you look at the (few) comments I post you will (or maybe not) agree that they tend to be balanced. The comments I post about Sinn Fein are for the benefit of others that might be educated by them. After more than 20 years of political activity and regular contact with Sinn Fein I do get annoy over the arrogant attitude that Sinn Fein knows best and everyone on the left is a petty sectarian.
Sinn Fein has a very simplistic perspective for developments on this island, one that will eventually lead to a sectarian conflict if it is not headed off. It comes froma very poor understanding of what is happening in the protestant communities and this is hardly surprising given that they only real contact Sinn Fein have with them is through the likes of Trimble.
Anyone that I have met and discussed with from Sinn Fein, including Gerry Adams, have at best a soft left (old labour party) type of outlook, but also have an underlining sectarianism, one which public representatives attempt to pull a thin veil over.
As I said by your friends may you be known. You don't agree with Bill Clinton's internal policies but he helped the peace process in Ireland. The GFA is not a peace process, but a receipe for further sectarian division and Bill Clinton represented the interests of the ruling class in the process. The ANC fought appartheid, yes but now they represent SA big business in the region. Just like Sinn Fein, when the opportunity arises they implement the wishes of the establishment. Same for the PLO. Arafat and is co-horts are gangsters and are doing nothing more than trying to preserve their power base, much like Sinn Fein in areas like West Belfast. They have to oppose US imperialism to do that.
Finally, if the numbers worked out and if Fianna Fail offered, Sinn Fein would have been in coalition with them like a shot. I have no doubt that the opportunity will arise in the not too distant future and I am sure you will play your important role in this.
History will eventually decide which of us will be proved correct. Hopefully the working class of this country will not have to pay a price to prove who was right.
"The ira allowed the british state to bring in repressive legistation which was used against all, including socialists."
There was plenty of repressive legislation already in NI. Internment, illegal to fly tricolour, sf banned. There was not one person one vote; in Derry where the population was 65% Catholic, loyalists were in a permanent majority on the City Council due to gerrymandering.
"The question is how to fight back. I'm sure sitting in front of your computer you feel like a real revolutionary."
I don't just sit in front of my PC. I am involved in AFA, pro choice, anti charges, Turkish Hunger Strike support campaign. I was involved in Libertarians Against Nice.
What do you do?
"Fuck off and die."
Gee, such devastating wit; I wish I had thought of that one.