If the strikes happen this time around, there won't be any GGs trundling around. Everyone will be trained on and equipped with up-to-date red appliances. I was "fortunate" enough to be a red appliance commander last year, during Fresco . Not only was our red Dennis a very flexible bit of kit (and easier to operate than a GG), but we got all the call-outs. We weren't perfect, but we achieved what was asked of us. We had an experienced HGV driver, who our traffic police escorts praised for his deft handling of the vehicle. I never lost an opportunity to sound the audible warning insruments, to let the good folk (and firefighters) of *** know that it was pretty much business as usual.
The BARTS (Breathing Aparatus Rescue Teams) and RESTS (Rescue Equipment Support Teams) did an excellent job. If it worked last time, it will work again. In reality, I think the Government will impose a settlement and the strikes won't happen, but armed forces personnel are already set to lose time off, having to train for the eventuality.
The firefighters have lost any goodwill they had from the public and are very vulnerable to being royally shafted by the Government. In my opinion, they have no one to blame but themselves. They demanded a 40% pay hike and attempted to hold the Country to ransom, by going on strike. In the end, they accepted 16%, linked to modernisation, but are now dragging their feet over bank holiday terms. The FBU looks like a bad joke from the 1970s and is destined to go the way of all the other anachronistic trades unions.