FBU leaders 'friends of Saddam'

[marx_was_right]

From the BBC website..

 A senior Conservative has moved to defuse a row sparked when he said firefighters' leaders had been acting like "Saddam's friends".
The Fire Brigades Union threatened to sue over "potentially defamatory" comments made by the shadow defence secretary, Bernard Jenkin.

It said his comments were "insulting, foolish and odious".

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Jenkin had called on the government to ban the strike, planned for 20 March.

"I do think this strike looks as though it's timed impeccably to coincide with the hostilities," he said.

"It does look as though the leadership of the Fire Brigades Union are behaving like Saddam's friends."
 
 He later backtracked, saying from the party's conference in Harrogate: "I accept that the FBU are not friends of Saddam Hussein.

"But they have been behaving like friends of Saddam Hussein and they have laid themselves open to that misinterpretation."

Party leader Iain Duncan Smith also tried to defuse the row.

'Not necessary'

He said Mr Jenkin merely meant that if the FBU was on strike at a time when the country was at war, then "in essence, it will be undermining our own forces because they are going to be under huge strain".

The Conservative leader said the Tories were making a simple appeal to the firefighters: "Don't do it. Whatever else, whatever the merits of your dispute, don't do this, because it is just not necessary."

 But the FBU insisted Mr Jenkin should publicly retract his "potentially libellous" comments fully, or face further action from the union.

The FBU said Mr Jenkin's comments had been "insulting to those firefighters called up as reservists and those firefighters who are ex-members of the services".

The timing of next week's strike was linked with the long-running pay talks, said a spokesman.

"Our pay claim should have been settled last year. It could have been settled last week. We would never run to any timetable other than those set out in the pay talks."

The union could not know the timetable for war, or even whether it was definitely going to happen, he said.

He added that the government had made it clear in the last few weeks that the military could cope with any conflicts in the Gulf and more fire strikes.

 Last week the FBU announced a 24-hour strike on 20 March, after rejecting a 16% pay offer linked with modernisations from local authority employers.
FBU delegates have been summoned to a national conference next Wednesday in Brighton where they will be asked to endorse the renewed strike.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has called on the FBU to put the proposed deal to the vote among members.



 THE NEXT STRIKE
Thursday 20 March
24 hours from 1800 GMT
Subject to endorsement from union members at a meeting on Wednesday 19 March

[comrade_tom]

it seems everyone has forgotten about fire strikes, i think 24 hours is not long enough

[marx_was_right]

Agree with you there Tom. The government can just about cope with a 24 hour strike that comes along once or twice a month. If Gilchrist is serious about winning this dispute then he should look at a 3 day or even one week strike.

[marx_was_right]

More from the BBC website..

 Fire strike may be banned

The attorney general is considering whether to ban the next firefighters' strike, planned for Thursday.
With military action in Iraq possible within days the government is worried the armed forces, and their ageing Green Goddess fire engines, will be unable to offer sufficient cover.

Last week the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) announced a 24-hour strike for Thursday, after rejecting a 16% pay offer linked to modernisation from local authority employers.

The attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, is understood to be reviewing whether the FBU would be in breach of the law by striking.

Under 1992 legislation from the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act the attorney general can ban a strike if it "wilfully or maliciously endangers life".
The Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and Fire Service Minister Nick Raynsford briefed Lord Goldsmith last week on their concerns for public safety if a strike goes ahead.

The Deputy Prime Minister's office said on Sunday: "The Attorney General has been consulted. It is his decision not ours."

News of a possible legal bar to the strike comes after the shadow defence secretary accused the FBU of bad timing in view of the possibility of war.

Bernard Jenkin said their actions made it appear as if they were "Saddam's friends", but the union said his remarks were an insult to the many firefighters who were either ex-servicemen or army reservists.

On Saturday Mr Jenkin called on the government to ban Thursday's strike.

He said: "I do think this strike looks as though it's timed impeccably to coincide with the hostilities.

"It does look as though the leadership of the Fire Brigades Union are behaving like Saddam's friends."

The FBU said his comments were "insulting, foolish and odious" and added that his remarks were potentially defamatory.

Mr Jenkin later backtracked, saying: "I accept that the FBU are not friends of Saddam Hussein. But they have been behaving like friends of Saddam Hussein and they have laid themselves open to that misinterpretation."

Party leader Iain Duncan Smith also tried to defuse the row.

'Not necessary'

He said Mr Jenkin merely meant that if the FBU was on strike at a time when the country was at war, then "in essence, it will be undermining our own forces because they are going to be under huge strain".

The Conservative leader said the Tories were making a simple appeal to the firefighters: "Don't do it. Whatever else, whatever the merits of your dispute, don't do this, because it is just not necessary."

But an FBU spokesman said: "Our pay claim should have been settled last year. It could have been settled last week. We would never run to any timetable other than those set out in the pay talks."

[comrade_tom]

Its about time we all stood up, its been defeat after defeat for the labour movement. You cant help thinking the government doesnt want us to have rights.

[Starry Plough]

Originally posted by igor
More from the BBC website..

 Fire strike may be banned

The attorney general is considering whether to ban the next firefighters' strike, planned for Thursday.
With military action in Iraq possible within days the government is worried the armed forces, and their ageing Green Goddess fire engines, will be unable to offer sufficient cover.

Last week the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) announced a 24-hour strike for Thursday, after rejecting a 16% pay offer linked to modernisation from local authority employers.

The attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, is understood to be reviewing whether the FBU would be in breach of the law by striking.

Under 1992 legislation from the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act the attorney general can ban a strike if it "wilfully or maliciously endangers life".
The Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and Fire Service Minister Nick Raynsford briefed Lord Goldsmith last week on their concerns for public safety if a strike goes ahead.

The Deputy Prime Minister's office said on Sunday: "The Attorney General has been consulted. It is his decision not ours."

News of a possible legal bar to the strike comes after the shadow defence secretary accused the FBU of bad timing in view of the possibility of war.

Bernard Jenkin said their actions made it appear as if they were "Saddam's friends", but the union said his remarks were an insult to the many firefighters who were either ex-servicemen or army reservists.

On Saturday Mr Jenkin called on the government to ban Thursday's strike.

He said: "I do think this strike looks as though it's timed impeccably to coincide with the hostilities.

"It does look as though the leadership of the Fire Brigades Union are behaving like Saddam's friends."

The FBU said his comments were "insulting, foolish and odious" and added that his remarks were potentially defamatory.

Mr Jenkin later backtracked, saying: "I accept that the FBU are not friends of Saddam Hussein. But they have been behaving like friends of Saddam Hussein and they have laid themselves open to that misinterpretation."

Party leader Iain Duncan Smith also tried to defuse the row.

'Not necessary'

He said Mr Jenkin merely meant that if the FBU was on strike at a time when the country was at war, then "in essence, it will be undermining our own forces because they are going to be under huge strain".

The Conservative leader said the Tories were making a simple appeal to the firefighters: "Don't do it. Whatever else, whatever the merits of your dispute, don't do this, because it is just not necessary."

But an FBU spokesman said: "Our pay claim should have been settled last year. It could have been settled last week. We would never run to any timetable other than those set out in the pay talks."

Britain is now officially a corperate state.

as for the original comments? typical nationalistic drivel from the tories. haven't they got anything better to say. there probobly bored. Blair has the job of anti-working class, imperialist war monger already taken. where does that leave IDS?

[redjordi]

HI all,

yesterday there was a recall conference of the firefighters union (in Britain) FBU in Brighton. the Executive committee of the union had decided to call off the strike on Thursday for fear of a public opinion backlash in the face of war (I think the decission was wrong, at most they could have postponed it for a week but not cancell it).

Furthermore the EC had voted (12 for 6 against) to recommend acceptance of a "new" offer from the employers. This new offer was almost exactly the same as another offer which had been rejected by teh union EC a day before. So much the case that many members had difficulty seeing any differences between the two.

Then, against the wishes of the EC, the FBU conference voted owerwhelmingly AGAINST! There are rumours that even the London region delegation demanded the resignation of the union's gen sec, the EC and all national officers which recommended acceptance!.

This shows what we have many times said, the workers are to the left of their leaders, and in this particulary current climate in the labour movement they can even defy them.

This is a very significant development. Specially since it takes place in a union which has a left leadership. What it shows is that the workers have confidence in these left union leaders as long as they are left and stand for workers rights, but they do not have any problem in defying them once they move to the right.

redjordi