For all of your sakes, I hope I am wrong...
No LJ..........I fear you are right. My time is almost up and I really do fear for my younger colleagues. We can go around in circles with this......the rights and the wrongs........but when all is said and done, the thought that anyone is going to suffer unduly, or, god forbid die as a result of this, makes me feel sick to the stomach.
All of you out there........please, please do not believe the crap that is printed about us. As a profession, we're an easy target.....second jobs etc, etc. I don't think we'll shake that image off any time soon. There are tossers in every walk of life but your average decent firefighter just wants a reasonable remuneration and pension for what can at times be a dangerous occupation.
It might be best if I take a step back from this debate now because I've no more to add other than that I am so desperately saddened by all of this.
Best wishes to all of you nonetheless.
Dave