FBU

After a grants round which saw a large drop in funding for some sectors, cutbacks are set to bite heavily in North Yorkshire and the South West.

The Observer reported that rank and file police officers demanded that their right to strike be reinstated as relations with the government fell to a 30-year low. The move highlights mounting unrest in the public sector over pay as unions threaten an 'autumn of discontent' for Gordon Brown.

Article written during the ongoing strike of fire fighters from 2002-2003 by the Anarchist Federation over pay and conditions, analysing the restructuring, the circumstances leading to the strike and the actions of the union.

A leaflet written and distributed by some people in the Anarchist Youth Network in the UK in 2003 during the strikes of firefighters for a pay increase to £30,000 and an end to "modernisation" or working practices.

The BBC reported that crews across Norfolk started the action on Tuesday afternoon but without the backing of their trade union.

They said managers were not keeping to a pay deal agreed in 2003. Fire service managers met union representatives on Wednesday to reach an agreement.

After the meeting firefighters decided to call off the action, which was to answer only 999 calls.

Managers and non-union members have been running a scab service throughout the strike, although there have been no major incidents. Fire fighters will resume the service for two hours on Monday, then start a new four strike immediately afterwards assuming no agreement is reached.

For more information, see our previous article:
http://libcom.org/news/merseyside-fire-strike-300806

Update: the strike is now on

Ministers had intended to raise the retirement age from 50 to 60 for new starters, creating a two-tier workforce. The new offer allows those with 30 years' service to retire at 50 - i.e. only those who begin service at the age of 20 or younger.

However, despite disquiet amongst delegates to the emergency FBU conference in Southport, the leadership is expected to call off the strike.

Unison, AMICUS, the Transport and General Workers Union, GMB, FBU and the NUT are amongst the unions involved, in what has been described as potentially the largest walk-out since the general strike of 1926. Talks have been going on for a year around the issue.

More than 2,000 FBU members took part in a ballot last month which had a majority of three to one in favour of action, however dates have not yet been set for the walk outs.

West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service has been liaising with the Army to provide emergency cover.