| Smoke Dodger |
Acting Sergeant Michael Lockett MC killed in AfghanistanAs the industrial action hopefully draws to a close, let us remember the troops in battle. Acting sergeant mike lockhart MC was killed just two days before the end of his tour of duty. I'm sure Sgt Lockhart was often at odds with his mangement over conditions and equipment, but even two days before coming home he was leading from the front, to make sure the troops in his command were safe. He was clearly a professional soldier and a true hero. Whilst we remember him and all of the troops that have given their lives doing a job that I'm sure not all of them agree with, lets also remember that our job isn't that bad. Please take the time to read the link.http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet...lLockettMcKilledInAfghanistan.htm |
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| Blaze Bear |
Well said, I for one forget how 'easy' we have it some days compared to other jobs. Maybe we can now ALL go back to what we do best, Saving lives! | ||
| BlazingPalace |
What ever a soldier does in the line of duty carrying out their job is always admirable and in these current conflicts one has to wonder why guys would volunteer to undertake such activities. However just because soldier is getting it in some far away land does not mean we have to accept bully boy tactics from management because we are “Lucky” with our easy job. Compared to some fat city banker who we have just bailed out with billions of our hard pounds so they can start to give themselves the same big bonuses, makes me think we have a shitty job and deserve more.
I really think we can not go down the road of comparing our job with someone else it just never works. When you say we have an easy job in what way? And how do you compare what we have to put up with to that of a professional soldier in the modern army? I see it as too completely separate undertakings, yes we can admire, respect and support those carrying out that function but it does not mean that I have to give up my own self esteem and be grateful with our lot. If the Yorkshire dispute does not resolve itself and our own management in an attempt to force through changes follows the same path will you be happy to accept that you have been sacked and reinstated into your easy job with less money because a soldier is killed or seriously wounded carrying out the job he volunteered to do? |
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| Smoke Dodger |
I truly believe that we don't have a bad job. Yes management are trying to introduce a lot of changes, but that's not just the fire service. Lots of peoples working condition are being attacked, and they don't neccessarily have the backing of a large union membership. Talking of that membership, how many of the members voted in the last action? Also a union that would ask the few to act on behalf of the many, in my eyes that is not unity at work, but that said I applaud those that took part in the action!
I was not suggesting that our job was any easier than the armies, merely the fact that it's not that bad. Not many jobs allow you the opportunity to earn additional income as our's does. People have been moaning for years about how bad we've got it, even before the threat of bed removal and shift change, it seems to be one of the firefighters commandments "tho shalt have the right to bitch and moan all day long". In this current economical climate I don't think that we would get a lot of support when it comes fighting for the beds and changes to our hours. At the end of the day we still have a job and whilst small, we got a pay rise this year when most people are taking cuts to save jobs. I don't belive that we should roll over and take what ever management throw at us, I will be standing alongside, hopefully all members when the shift system and pensions are threatened, but I believe they are fights that we can win. This last action was poorly thought out I wait to be proven wrong by the outcome, but put it this way, I'm not holding my breathe. |
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| BlazingPalace |
All members of the union have the right to vote just like most of the population has the right to vote in a general election. If you do not wish to exercise that right you can not complain or moan about the outcome of the vote. After all that’s exactly what those soldiers are doing in Afghanistan fighting to ensure some level of democracy Asking a few to take action to help the majority is often the best way to achieve results, after all we all applaud the “Brave few” who day after day climbed into their Spitfires and Hurricanes to take on the might of the Luftwaffe during the battle of Britain. A few posters on here like to have a famous line from a film or an historic speech as a strap to their profile what about “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few” Now I know we have not been in conflict but it shows the point that sometimes less can be more and shows a level of thinking that was not evident in the last industrial action. As always in times of economic down turn Public Services are always the first to receive cuts and get the blame for uncontrollable public spending, but that’s just the way politicians who have allowed and caused this situation to develop deflect the blame from them and onto others. Although I seem to remember reading somewhere that the money given by our government to the banks equal something like 48 brand new fully staffed and equipped hospitals. I think most Firefighters moans are more about the way the job is being run, lack of equipment and training, although the prospect of a new style of management which is sweeping the country with bosses sacking people and then employing fewer staff on worst terms seems to becoming the norm and heading to a fire authority as we speak would seem fairly good grounds to moan. |
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| Blaze Bear |
As much as I don't want to, I have to go for the side of Smoke, we do have a stable and well paid job. I'm not saying in the future this won't change and we'll have to fight tooth and nail to keep most of what we have.
I also agree that comparing both jobs can't be as simple as Black and white, but I have done both  and I don't have anyone in the brigade saying to me at 5pm on a Friday 'You can't go home/out/ to a family wedding cos you are now on guard on the Saturday morning. I have no recollection of any firefighter writing to the chief requesting permission to get married, or getting marched off the jail and beasted just because the NCO didn't like the answer they gave them or their shoes weren't clean enough.
There will be things to fight in the coming months and years that are worth fighting for (pension & Hours) but we need to stand together and two thirds of the workforce not being arsed to send back their voting forms is not the way 
I think sometimes we are all at fault, the unions and the brigade, we need to sit and talk without the threat of industrial action or the threat of the brigade forcing stuff on us. I do however think the first step is to force Coleman out and get someone in that has some sort of respect for us and the job we do. |
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| john smith |
Hello all I feel I have to reply
For a start the few (CM*) where not carrying out all the action for the rest of the London membership, I do understand that they where put under the most pressure, but that was threats made by the brigade and the rest of London FBU where there to make up any shortfalls in there pay. there is a offer on the table but that will be voted to accept or not by branchs i.e. YOU the union if your not aware of these facts then i suggest you get a grip of your branch rep or start looking at the union notice boards. We the union did try to negotiate for the last 2 years but were left with no other options, and please stop comparing the two jobs you can’t. An ex infantryman of 5 years |
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| Straight8 |
I don't think the Faust and Meere families will say we have an easy job.
Nor the families of the two guys in Kent, or the guys up in Warwickshire where that factory went up and 3 perished. Nor the 2 lads from the storage warehouse on the Blackwall Tunnel approach, or Mick Hill's family from the laundry at Willesden. Both jobs are dangerous, both cost life’s. |
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