[A-List] UK labour militancy & public order

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

Fire union says it will not touch Bain proposals 'with a bargepole'
By Barrie Clement, Labour Editor
The Independent, 11 November 2002

Firefighters' leaders are planning to reject proposals in an independent
review aimed at averting Wednesday's national strike.

The Fire Brigades Union has said it will not "touch with a bargepole" many
of the recommendations in an interim report on the future of the fire
service by Sir George Bain, due to be released this afternoon.

Sir George has argued in the report that firefighters are adequately
rewarded and should be paid more only if they broaden skills and services.

He envisages changing the fire service's name to reflect a broader role and
is keen to include a reference to "community safety" in the title.

Further reforms to the service, which is governed by the Fire Services Act
of 1947, should include some shorter shifts and certain exemptions on night
working to attract more women.

More recruits are needed from the ethnic minorities, not least because they
will be better equipped to deal with the number of languages and cultures
the service meets.

Sir George also wants to see greater emphasis on fire safety and prevention,
which requires a wider range of skills than currently found in the service,
as well as a relatively greater daytime workload. Other proposed changes
would make it easier for less experienced staff to rise to senior levels.

Sir George also calls for an end to the current system whereby each station
must have the same number of crew.

A senior source at the FBU said many proposals amounted to nothing new and
many had been discredited. He added that the union would "not touch some of
the changes with a bargepole". The comments mean last-minute pay
negotiations due to start tomorrow will be extremely difficult.

It was understood last night that negotiations over a new pay figure are
still under way. Andy Gilchrist, the FBU leader, has warned that the
patience of firefighters was running out.

One of the proposals likely to meet with stiffest opposition is a move to
make to the FBU drop its ban on routine overtime. However, ministers will
insist at least some of the changes recommended by Sir George will have to
be accepted in return for an improvement in the 4 per cent pay offer.

If there is no settlement, this week's 48-hour strike will be
followed by three eight-day strikes, planned for 22 to 30 November, 4 to 12
December, and 16 to 24 December.

* Leaders of air traffic controllers yesterday called for a 15-minute strike
in protest at bonuses of £215,000 and £62,000 paid to two directors of the
National Air Traffic Services.