Submitted by SWFBU on
TO: ALL MEMBERS SOUTH WEST
January 2011
Dear Brother / Sister
“THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE” PAMPHLET
Please find above an FBU South West pamphlet entitled “There is an Alternative”. The information in this pamphlet was first developed by our Sister Union the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) and we are indebted to them for their work. The pamphlet has been distributed to show that there is a viable alternative to the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) which was announced on the 20th of October 2010.
The cuts within the CSR represent the biggest political attack on the Fire & Rescue Service and other public services in living memory. Across the public sector as a whole the Government says that 500,000 jobs will be axed, with as many again from the private sector. It is sickening that while the Government attacks Firefighters and Public Servants, the bankers who caused the crisis are set to receive £7 BILLION in bonuses in this year alone (Centre for Economics and Business Research). Clearly we are NOT “all in this together”.
In the Fire Service across the South West we are now seeing the first wave of proposed cuts being rolled out and the scale is staggering. Dangerous plans to reduce fire cover, cut jobs and downgrade Fire stations are being proposed across the Region. Such plans would increase the risk to both the public and Firefighters alike and exposes as a lie previous promises to “protect front line services”.
Proposals such as these are ill thought out, unprofessional and ultimately dangerous and we need to be absolutely clear: the FBU will fight against any cuts that reduce fire cover and put public or Firefighter safety at risk and we expect all FBU members to stand and fight together for our future.
Politicians and principal managers who want to cut our Service know that the FBU will stand in their way. That is why they try to split us. Up and down the country we have recently seen management tactics which are clearly designed to cause friction between Firefighters on different Duty Systems, or isolate Officer and Control Members. We must see such tactics for what they are: an attempt to undermine our Unity to achieve cuts in our Service.
I urge every FBU member to resist any tactic designed to split us. The proposed cuts will impact on us all: Wholetime, Retained, Officer & Control and we must all send the message that an attack on one is an attack on us all.
A common feature in our Region relates to plans for so called “Day Crewing plus” being proposed under the banner of “flexible staffing”. The FBU has experienced these proposals in other parts of the country and I want to caution members as to the tactics used. Under National Conditions of Service if FRS`s want to change Duty Systems then they should reach agreement with the FBU. However instead of this, some FRS`s have deliberately undermined the majority of the workforce by offering substantial sums to individuals in an attempt to bribe them into working these systems.
Members should not be fooled: these plans are about reducing establishment levels and achieving massive job cuts. Such systems require Firefighters to spend days at a time on the Station and are more akin to the Victorian age than 2010. Be under no illusion: these short term bribes are about selling out you and your colleague’s jobs. Do not fall for these tactics. If any member is approached regarding signing up to such a system then they should refuse and inform the FBU immediately. Any agreements regarding Duty Systems must be made by the collective, through the FBU, and not through bribing individuals.
This is clearly a worryingly time for all of us, not just in the Fire and Rescue Service but across the public service and beyond. That is why Trade Unions across the TUC are joining forces to fight back in a co-ordinated way to protect our Members and all working people. We need to organise as never before and ensure that we are all playing our part in getting our message across in the most effective way possible.
The pamphlet spells out the compelling case against cuts, and offers an alternative viable solution. I hope that all FBU Members in the South West will use it at every level in order to make the case against cuts and win the arguments for an alternative based on social justice and public safety. The recent FBU victory in the campaign against Regional Control Centres should give us confidence that if we all stick together in a united and determined campaign for our Service then we can effect positive change.
Best wishes.
Yours fraternally,
TAM MCFARLANE
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
