by Benny The Noon » Tue Oct 26, 2010 8:23 am
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11623410
London firefighters' Bonfire Night strike 'reckless'
Firefighters protested through the streets of London in September London firefighters marched in protest over new contracts in September
The government has accused the Fire Brigades' Union (FBU) of "putting lives at risk" by calling a strike in London on Bonfire Night.
The 47-hour action, starting on 5 November, will be the third strike date since the FBU announced strike action over new contracts.
It said the dispute centred on plans to scrap current rotas and force staff to sign new contracts or face the sack.
But Fire Minister Bob Neill called the action "reckless".
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"It's profoundly wrong and inappropriate to choose that particular time for the strike," the Conservative MP said.
"The government's stayed out of the details of the dispute which is between the Fire Brigades' Union and their employers.
"But the timing of this particular strike I think is provocative. It's reckless. It actually puts Londoners' lives at risk in a needless way."
The FBU said thousands of its members would walk out from 1000 GMT on 5 November until 0900 GMT on 7 November.
Last week, the FBU announced that 79% of its members who voted supported strike action.
Crews staged an eight-hour strike on Saturday and another is planned for Monday 1 November.
'Calculated' insults
FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said the union had been left with no choice.
"The alternative is to allow London's firefighters to become doormats for their employers to walk on," he said.
"The long-term safety of Londoners depends on a well-trained, self-confident firefighting force.
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WHAT HAS LED TO THE STRIKE?
* The dispute centres on plans to shorten firefighters' night shifts and increase day shifts
* Firefighters currently work 15-hour night shifts and 9-hour day shifts
* The London Fire Brigade is proposing 13-hour night shifts and 11-hour day shifts
* The brigade says this will give more time for training and community safety work
* The FBU is angry that firefighters must sign new contracts or face the sack
* It is striking as the brigade has begun a formal process to terminate 5,600 firefighters' contracts
"The chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Brian Coleman, issues calculated insults and says he's relaxed and sacking all of them.
"He and the Commissioner, Ron Dobson, want to run the London Fire Brigade as though it were a Victorian mill. They want a frightened and obedient firefighting force. We simply cannot accept that."
Urging the authority to meet representatives and come up with a solution, he said: "There's still nearly two weeks for the London Fire Brigade to get this right."
London Fire Brigade said changes were needed so the public would remain protected while budgets were squeezed.
London fire authority chairman Brian Coleman asked: "What sort of union orders its firefighters to go on strike over Bonfire Night?"
"The emergency fire cover did what we expected it to do the first day, and will do so again."
London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said: "It is very disappointing that even before the first strike dates have taken place we are facing new threats.
"The harassment, intimidation and violence that occurred during the first FBU strike to emergency fire crews shows that there is a small mindless minority of people hell-bent on trying to sabotage work that is done to reduce the risk from fire and save lives.
"I would rather we resolve the dispute, but if the next strike goes ahead, I hope protesting is more peaceful and will not impact on the contracted service we need to provide."
Once again they go on strike and this time on Bonfire night ?!
Have they gone too far this time ?