Planetarion Forums - The fireman strikes may ruin my christmas

Vanilla · 21 Nov 2002, 15:47

I noticed they had a strike on the 18th-24th of december (or there abouts).

Someone said they would be closing the airports on these days, too dangerous to have them open without firemen (it could be false).

I fly back to England on the 22nd december. Now if the airports are closed it will mean i'll have to wait until late on the 24th before flying, the +5 hours means most of my christmas will be gone.

he;lp

Kill · 21 Nov 2002, 15:52

Quote:

Originally posted by Vanilla
I noticed they had a strike on the 18th-24th of december (or there abouts).

Someone said they would be closing the airports on these days, too dangerous to have them open without firemen (it could be false).

I fly back to England on the 22nd december. Now if the airports are closed it will mean i'll have to wait until late on the 24th before flying, the +5 hours means most of my christmas will be gone.

he;lp

If there was a serious emergency the fireservice would cover it so no point in closing airports.

Cmdr_Cyrax · 21 Nov 2002, 16:04

Take comfort in the fact that they'll be getting a 16%+ bonus for it......

NEWSBOT3 · 21 Nov 2002, 17:50

i thought airports provided their OWN fire services.

edit : ps. no airports where closed during the last lot a few days ago.

21 Nov 2002, 18:02

Quote:

Originally posted by NEWSBOT3
i thought airports provided their OWN fire services.

indeed

GavGull · 21 Nov 2002, 18:07

Have the government took the red fire engines back yet?

Woof · 21 Nov 2002, 18:09

Airports have their own fireservices, which are not affected by the strike.
They are employed by the airport, and as such, are private workers. The strike only covers the public sector workers, who are employed by the goverment.

Cicada · 21 Nov 2002, 18:34

Quote:

Originally posted by GavGull
Have the government took the red fire engines back yet?

the armed forces are refusing to cross the picket lines apparently

seventh · 21 Nov 2002, 18:47

heh, the government should give em it
theyre like, doing amazing jobs, what theyre paid is ****ing ****

MrL_JaKiri · 21 Nov 2002, 18:50

Quote:

Originally posted by seventh
heh, the government should give em it
theyre like, doing amazing jobs, what theyre paid is ****ing ****

What about teachers?

In London, Tube drivers are payed more.

Little Timmy · 21 Nov 2002, 18:53

But I think theres another strike planned by airport workers..which includes all security personnel and Fire crews.so effectively without either the airports would be closed.

Marilyn Manson · 21 Nov 2002, 18:54

Quote:

Originally posted by seventh
what theyre paid is ****ing ****

No they're not. They are paid relatively well. £8:50 an hour by all accounts, not including other sources of income, etc.

There are people in the public services who are a lot worse off than the Firefighters. If they were truly underpayed, like some people in the public sector are, I'd probably have more sympathy for them. As it is, the demand of 44% is pure greed on their part. Money should be going to the people who are currently paid a pitance.

the_dastardley_chihuahua · 21 Nov 2002, 23:21

Quote:

Originally posted by Cicada

the armed forces are refusing to cross the picket lines apparently

err, if the picket lines needed to be crossed there is no way in hell the government would use the army.

besides the big problem isnt lack of modern fireengines. its lack of training to drive/operate them. the government has full access to well over 100 modern appliances which are used for training purposes.

the reason they werent used during the last strike: the army wasnt trained to use them.

the_dastardley_chihuahua · 21 Nov 2002, 23:27

Quote:

Originally posted by Marilyn Manson

No they're not. They are paid relatively well. £8:50 an hour by all accounts, not including other sources of income, etc.

no. they used to be paid relatively well when they negotiated the last pay settlement in the 70s. then they argeed a pay structure that would tie in wages relative to the average wage of the manual worke - which at the time was 14% above the national avergae wage. today the average wage of a manual worker is below that of the national average wage.

so in actual fact they are being paid ralatively badly.

(ps - you shouldnt include 'other sources of income' since it kind of defeats your point that they are well paid. if they were well paid then they wouldnt need another soure of income (oh sorry i forgot, they are greedy *******s and want to work every hour god sends so they can live in luxury. forget never getting to spend time with their family or being constantly tired from doing two jobs))

Rids · 21 Nov 2002, 23:42

Quote:

Originally posted by Cicada

the armed forces are refusing to cross the picket lines apparently

heh

The few squaddies I know seem more than happy to cross the picketlines, however, why oh why would we want to entrust expensive equipment such as fire engines to people whos party trick is crushing beer cans on their foreheads?

Ulysses · 22 Nov 2002, 00:51

Quote:

Originally posted by Marilyn Manson

No they're not. They are paid relatively well. £8:50 an hour by all accounts, not including other sources of income, etc.

There are people in the public services who are a lot worse off than the Firefighters. If they were truly underpayed, like some people in the public sector are, I'd probably have more sympathy for them. As it is, the demand of 44% is pure greed on their part. Money should be going to the people who are currently paid a pitance.

Incorrect,

The fire fighters are ASKING for a raise to take them to a proposed £8.50 per hour, at present they get as a basic rate around £5.40.

Most of the married fire fighters with families have to claim tax credit top up benefit to make ends meet, those that dont,work a second job on thier days off.

To put this into a real perspective, consider this.

An Electrician can get a pay rate of £13.00 an hour (outside London)
A Plumber can get the same, as can a bricklayer and a plasterer.

All of the above are Tradesmen who have served a recognised 4 year apprenticeship.

A Fire Fighter has to undertake 4 years training to become qualified, and considered fully trained, yet he only gets £5.40 per hour.

I know who I would be happy to pay more to?

How many electricians would risk their lives to save your children, or your mother?

Kurashima · 22 Nov 2002, 00:56

The government gave themselves a payrise of 41%
The firefighters asked for 40%.
The government offered 11%
The Firefighters went on strike.
The government LOWERED the offer to 4% and said they couldnt afford to offer any more.

Someone in Whitehall is spoiling for a fight , which they will win, but at the cost of peoples lives.

One side sees the short term picture
One side THINKS they see the bigger picture.

Neither side is coming out of this with any credibility.