18 November 2002

FBU proved right over 16% offer


The Fire Brigades Union has maintained throughout the current pay dispute that the National Fire Service Employers’ were set to make us an offer of 16% on the 9th July 2002. This offer was never made as the Government stepped in and stopped it.

Several members of our National Employers’, the LGA and the Government have all publicly denied this was the case. The paperwork has now appeared, which proves the FBU were correct all along.

As late as Thursday last week, members of the LGA and Government ministers denied this offer had ever existed.
Andy Gilchrist, FBU General Secretary said: “We have always maintained the Government stepped in and stopped this offer being made on the 9th July. It is clear to us that senior members of the LGA, including Sir Jeremy Beecham and John Ransford, have been lying to the public about this offer which if made would have made the basis for further talks and a possible negotiated settlement without the need to take strike action.

Government ministers have also been lying about this offer to the public and members of the Fire Brigades Union. The public should now be questioning the Government’s motivation behind this dispute.

The Government have twice stepped in and stopped constructive talks at crucial times during this dispute. The first time they stopped our employers’ making us an offer of 16-20%; the second time they imposed their Bain Review into the middle of constructive talks forcing the FBU to enact our mandate for strike action.

The way the Government has acted so far is a national disgrace. They have stopped constructive talks, lied to the public and forced the nation’s firefighters to take strike action.

It is now time the Government stayed out of this dispute and allowed the National Fire Service Employers’ to enter into constructive negotiations without their hands tied behind their back. If this were allowed to happen, there could possibly be an end to this dispute before any further strike action takes place on Friday.”


Notes for Editors

• The next strike will take place on Friday 22nd November, commencing at 0900 hours and will last for 8 days.

• The Pay Claim is for a £30,000 wage for Wholetime Professional Firefighters and Emergency Fire Control staff. Pay parity for Professional Firefighters working the Retained duty system and a new Pay Formula to maintain these rates for the future.

• Currently, Professional Firefighters are paid £21,531 per annum.

• Emergency Fire Control Officers are paid 92% of this rate.

• Professional Retained Firefighters are paid substantially less than their Wholetime colleagues i.e. £6.20 per hour.

• Currently, Firefighters pay is linked to a National Formula which was borne out of the only National Strike ever in the UK Fire Service, in 1977.

For further information contact

Duncan Milligan - Press Officer
Mobile: 07736 818100

Geoff Ellis – National Officer
Mobile: 07740 403240
Office: 020 8541 1765

John McGhee – National Officer
Mobile 07714 223400
Office: 020 8541 1765

Dave Patton – National Officer
Mobile: 07736 818101
Office: 020 8541 1765

Mike Lawson – National Officer
Mobile: 07736 818102
Office: 020 8541 1765