Arti Dillon November 1 at 9:48am
As you know, the FBU in London is on strike today 10am - 6pm Monday 1st November, and then for 47 hours 5th - 6th November. The dispute is a crucial one - the employers, with the backing of government ministers and the media, are out to break the firefighters.
The shocking smears made against Firefighters and the FBU has been challenged by General Sec, Mr Wrack: “Each day, the large team of well paid press officers at LFB headquarters, paid for by Londoners, looks for a story which can be used to discredit its workforce, our members. Each day, something – a truth, a half truth, and sometimes just a lie – is fed to LFB’s friends on right wing newspapers. '.
All NSSN supporters should endeavour to do the following:
1. Visit picket lines, and take with you others from your workplace and union branch. The FBU have specifically asked for trade unionists to come to their picket lines. They are planning pickets at every single fire station in London.
2. Take workplace collections and ask for donations from your union branch
3. Invite FBU speakers to your union meetings
4. Below is the guidance provided by the FBU to ASLEF on the London underground. We want to get regional union officials, or exec members of London unions, to make requests to FBU for similar advice statements. Anything you can do to move that along will be helpful.
Fire Brigade capabilities during periods of strike action by members of the Fire Brigade union on incidents on the underground network in London FROM FBU REGIONAL H& S CHAIR:
Thank you for your concerns regarding periods of industrial action (strike action) by Fire Brigade union members in London. From the information you provided me, I feel obliged to bring to your attention the inaccuracies that your management have received in this matter from the London Fire Brigade.
The operational procedures relating to incidents on the underground, have been developed over a number of years ensure the fastest and safest response. These operational procedures involve dealing with the widest type of incident, from a small fire to a major catastrophic incident, all of which have happen in some form or the other in the past.
All these various scenarios have been pre-planned for, to ensure maximum capability at any call to the underground. Fighting fires in the underground requires specialist skills, none of which the contractors being employed by the fire brigade during periods of industrial action have. Their skills level, is very basic and in truth basic would be an underestimation. London fire-fighters spend six months in basic training before being sent to an operational station, and then spend a further two years training, before they are deemed to be competent. We understand that the contractors have had no more than one to 2 weeks basic training, and will only fight fires from a defensive point of view. In other words they will not attempt to make rescues or fight any fire internally, which obviously presents a specific risk if a fire occurs within the underground network.
Also when Fire Brigade union members are taking industrial action there is only 27 of these basic appliances available, and during last weeks industrial action on the 23rd, by 1400 in the afternoon there was only 11 appliances available across the whole of London, rather than normal 300, there were only 66 un-trained contractors available, rather than the 1200 plus professional fire-fighters during normal periods of working.
There will be no crews available with GAS tights protection PPE suits or other specialist equipment to an incident in tunnel network during periods of industrial action.
None of the specialist fire rescue units (FRU) will be available during periods of industrial action. These units carry 90% of the equipment required for dealing with incidents in the underground network. Without these appliances being available, rescues and incidents in tunnels will not be able to be dealt with. Incidents below ground level would be near impossible to be dealt with without the availability of these crews and appliances.
There will be no urban search and rescue (USAR) equipment or crews available in London either, during periods of strike action in London, should a terrorist or other major incident occur, this equipment is specifically designed to deal with incidents involving chemical or biological, as well as specialist decontamination equipment for members of the public and your members if such an incident were to happen.
Therefore if you are carrying a risk assessment you must have the full knowledge, that there will not be support of the Fire Brigade to assist should and incident occur.
The picture I paint is not a good one, and I completely understand that you have to take into account all of the above to ensure the safety of the public and your members. It is with deep regret that fire-fighters are taking this action.
Gordon Fielden
Regional health and safety coordinator.
London FBU Regional Chair
E-mail: gordon.fielden@fbu.org.uk
The Fire Brigades Union, John Horner Mews, Frome Street, London , N1 8PB
Messages of support to: ian.leahair@fbu.org.uk or ben.sprung@fbu.org.uk.
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RMT/TSSA - Strike Tuesday 2nd Nov
RMT & TSSA continue their battle against cuts on Tuesday & Wednesday this week. RMT also highlighted the Board Room Bonazas as workers face cuts and public pay higher prices. Please also encourage support for the pickets and RMT would welcome attending union meetings to discuss the dispute.
Messages of support/speakers: S.Hedley@rmt.org.uk,
Please forward information to your members and other workers - Thankyou.
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