MPD
If you had quoted the rest of my post the answer was already there:
Whilst I know it is the FBU's right to dispute with industrial action, personally I have little sympathy. I believe that there are far better, more intelligent, ways of raising a grievance with your employer than the good old antiquated strike - the only losers normally being the strikers who don't get paid, 'burn their bridges' with their employer and damaging their prestigious image with the general public. Media campaigns, organised marches, engagement with opposition MPs and working with national employer's representation is a far better way. However, as the FBU's Mr Wrack is in with the other socialist bunch like Mr Crow (RMT), Tony Woodley (TGWU) and others, I suspect this is more about there being a centre-right government in power than anything else. He is a member of the so called "Awkward Squad" who want to regain the Labour Party for socialism.
For example, a media campaign worked well for the Gurkhas - no striking! Help4Heroes, underwritten by a national newspaper, made the MoD sit up and listen to improve the medical services for our wounded - no strikes!
I really do think that the majority of firefighters don't realise what they have done - they have played right into the hands of classic socialist anti-capitalism opposition.
The dirty tricks brigade were definately at hand during Op FRESCO by trying to catch out the Goverment's resilience measures - calling strikes, "on the bus, off the bus".
Calling the recent strikes on Bonfire Night weekend, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve when fireworks and lots of people do stupid things - I suspect this is what Hangarshuffle is getting at. Now I know that the average FBU firefighter won't have selected the dates/times but it doesn't help anyone and certainly damages the mantra of the FBU of "we always have public safety in mind".
I'm sure that we would
all like a pension at age 55, but quite frankly as we're all living into our 80s and beyond I can see that it isn't affordable. Maybe if the Government started us all smoking again, stopped pushing for healthy lifestyles and winding up a lot of care under the NHS and then we could afford age 55 pensions again!
Anyway, I really do respect the work of Fire and Rescue Service and I believe you are well remunerated for what you do to serve. The reason why I feel the need to post my thoughts is that I want firefighters to know that they don't have the support of any of the people who I have met (even a Guardian reader!). I also cannot believe that the FBU will break the Government as they would have to cave in on all the pension changes for the rest of the Public Services (Civil Sevice, Police, HMForces, etc...) - sadly, all I can see happening is the destruction of the Fire and Rescue Service as we know it and a bunch of good guys, believing they are doing the right thing, losing wages which they cannot afford to lose.
For all of your sakes, I hope I am wrong...
Best
LJ