As the strike goes on....

Discussion in 'Serious' started by CrOaKeR, 25 Nov 2002.

  1. CrOaKeR

    CrOaKeR Host warrior 4, Vengence!

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    I have just come home from work to find that I can hardly get down my road. The row of houses opposite is on fire, and they have been fighting it for 30 minutes. I think everybody is out and ok, but its a hell of a mess. The green godesses are here, the army are trying there hardest, but they seem to be making a hash of it. As i type one of them is up a ladder smashing in the roof! :eeek:
     
  2. SiMonTiST

    SiMonTiST Minimodder

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    :eeek: a fiar


    Are the houses terraced?
     
  3. CrOaKeR

    CrOaKeR Host warrior 4, Vengence!

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    yeah, 3 in a row, I think they have it under control now, but it looked liek it was spreading at one point.
     
  4. bradford010

    bradford010 Bradon Frohman

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    I believe the point of putting a hole in the roof is to allow them to put water in through it.

    Glad to hear everyone's OK though. Time the government stopped making it an ego contest and sorted out negotiations :rolleyes:
     
  5. stewe151

    stewe151 Stress Personified

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    would someonle like to enlighten me? whats going on? negotiations for what?
     
  6. bradford010

    bradford010 Bradon Frohman

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    The firefighter's union was in negotiations with the employers for better pay and it didn't go well.
    The result was a 2 day industrial action.
    An agreement appeared to be reached, but the government stepped in and killed that.
    And now we're in the early stages of them taking an 8 day industrial action.

    While out on strike, fire cover is provided by the armed forces in 50 year old fire engines known as 'Green Goddesses'.
     
  7. Kevo

    Kevo 426F6C6C6F636B7300

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    Yes but if they wernt trying to clame a retarded 40% pay rise the goverment might have listened. :sigh:

    The firemen do NOT have my support, they are willing to put people in more danger to get more money. It makes me sick.
     
  8. Mat-d-Rat

    Mat-d-Rat Drive it to the edge baby

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    Although I do recall the members of parliment giving themselves a 40% pay rise not long ago (no arguments there from them!!)
     
  9. Kevo

    Kevo 426F6C6C6F636B7300

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    Yes but the firemen want a 40% pay rise across the board, and as you can probebly guess there are alot more firemen then members of parliment.

    I say give any money they were going to give the firemen to the poor cannon fodder that are trying to do a job they havent been properly trained for.
     
  10. stewe151

    stewe151 Stress Personified

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    ah, thanks for clearing that up.
     
  11. Will

    Will Beware the judderman...

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    I say the firemen are taking the **** with their demands, as a 40% increase across the board will have a pretty big effect on inflation, and every other public sector worker, doctor, nurse, policeman, will all want more ££...not that they will all get it, nor can they strike (indeed I believe the police are banned from striking), but giving a huge raise to one sector may set a precadent for others.

    Personally I feel the firemen deserve a raise, but nowhere near the 40% they ask for. Currently for every place in the fire service, there are 40 applicants, so the pay can't be that bad or nobody would want the job.

    In addition, has anyone seen the rates of pay for the armed forces? I think some poor british soldier serving in Afghanistan or Ali al Salem or Kosovo must be miffed that the firemen, whos starting wage is £5k higher than that of a starting soldier, yet the fireman are the ones screaming about the danger of their job and deserving more because of it. I know of it was a choice between 3 months at Bagram airport, Afghanistan, or Kuwait and a call out to *an actual fire* rather than a hoax twice or three times per shift, and I know which i'd consider most potentially dangerous, and it ain't fireman sams job!
     
  12. RTT

    RTT #parp

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    Nah... they're doing the best thing (the govt). It's a farce that they (firemen) think they can demand a pay rise, and then just go on strike cos they didn't get it, putting us all at risk. ******* cheek.

    If they get a pay rise, then all the other public sectors will want the same, and then where will all you tax payers be? Paying even more tax... as if you don't pay enough already.
     
  13. Jaz

    Jaz Banned

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    doctors aren't that badly off, i should know, my gramps was one.
    anyhow they can go private if thyre good enough or hell another country.
    and nurses, thatd be quite funny to see them go on strike. hehehehe chaos all around.

    and 30k a year is nothing compared to hat some ppl get paid. US firemen get 32k a year (UK money)
     
  14. bradford010

    bradford010 Bradon Frohman

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    To start with, I think we need to establish just how much firefighters are actually worth.
    Decide who is your closest loved one. Now imagine they are in a burning building. Now put a monetary value on how much you think the person who is all too willing to run into that building is worth.

    But, of course, this is the real world and the money has to come from somewhere, we have to be realistic. And the money and a deal is there.

    One thing it is important to get clear before debating this is the fact that the dispute/negotiations are going on between two parties. The FBU (Fire Brigades Union) and the employers. However the government (a third party who has to ultimately rubber stamp any settlement) has insisted on blocking them.

    Before the latest action both the FBU and the employers worked hard, right through the night, and a deal of 16% to be followed by negotiated modernisation of the service was reached at 6:00am. The strike was off. Then the strike was on again after the Deputy PM's office made it clear the deal would not be reviewed by John Presscot until 9:00am (the time the action was due to begin). So once again the nation's lives are at risk because John Presscot was too lazy to get his fat ass out of bed a few hrs earlier.

    But there are those who say firefighters don't have to strike. In that case, what are they to do? Ask nicely and when they get stepped on we expect them to take it with aplomb?
    Would we deny them even the most basic of rights we afford toilet cleaners?
     
  15. herbs

    herbs Nobody but us chickens

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    I support the fireman and women, although it may seem strong to demand a 40% payrise that was just an initial price to put on the table but they would have accepted the 16%.
    Yes 16% does seem alot but for the specialize training and other roles they do in my eyes justifies it. As someone already point up the MP's gave themselves a massive payrise a few years ago, yet most of the b*stards can't be bothered to show themselves unless its election time. Don't get me started on John Prescott what a waste of space. This labour government hasn't learnt from the mistakes that the previous labour government made. It's going down the same route, look at the rail track situation ok the rot was started by the tories but they have been power for long enough to reverse the problem.
    Oh don't forget no money for the firefighters but we can kiss USA'sbut and start a war, which most of the world is against. Even if a war is justified it still doesn't take away from the fact the money to wage it comes from somewhere.
     
  16. Jaz

    Jaz Banned

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    i think ppl have the idea that its alot of money and they shouldn't get it cause firefighters can only do so much. if theres no fires what are they to do, do you want them sending out people to create fires, hmmm lets burn down your house today, ooooo its a terraced and a fireworks factory is down the road. excellent.

    hmm sure.

    whens the last time you jumped intoa burning building to save someones life?
     
  17. Fly

    Fly inter arma silent leges

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    Thanks for noticing the poor wages that the armed forces get Will, a soldier currently starts at less than 10k and can be posted to an active war zone straight from training.
    we are currently running at 40% manning in my office due to the fire strike. Most of our guys are currently in south wales putting out fires with just two weeks training on antiquated equipment!!! The Armed Forced should get the recognition they deserve, 19000 of them are out there risking thier lives with nothing but 50 year old fire appliances to put out blazes.
    I cant say i have 100% support for the fire service because I dont agree that they should be allowed to strike, we are talking peoples lives here, not mining coal or manufacturing steel girders.
    I personally hope that the families of any victims during the strike sue the leaders of the FBU, they knew the risks involved and still allowed a full strike to go ahead, the thing is they would of been just as effective if they walked away from fires once they had ascertained that there were no people in danger.
     
  18. Guest-16

    Guest-16 Guest

    I agree with everything said there! Good post! :)
     
  19. Jaz

    Jaz Banned

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    yeah well maybe the army should stop complaining and do something about their equipment, oh i forgot everything the army buys either they can't use or is already broken
     
  20. Fly

    Fly inter arma silent leges

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    19000 personnel doing the firemans job, a war to rage in the Desert, on top of replacing ageing equipment....

    I guess you will foot the bill then??

    Jaz, I'll expect a cheque by return of post.

    :wallbash:;)
     

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