All London firefighters threatened with being sacked

[Hannah Bell]

Firefighters have voted in favour of industrial action in opposition to a new contract in London. The contract would take three hours off the nightshift, leaving the capital short of fire cover and the population at risk, as exhausted firefighters became less effective. Most fire deaths occur in the early hours of the morning, when emergency cover would be reduced under the new contract.

London Fire Brigade Commissioner Ron Dobson insisted that unless they accept the new shift patterns, all London firefighters will be sacked. The sackings can take place under section 188 of the 1992 Trade Union and Labour Relations Act, which allows management to impose a 90-day “consultation period”. That countdown began on August 11, when a letter went out to all firefighters.

The new shift patterns would see the current two 9-hour day shifts and two 15-hour night shifts changed for four consecutive 12-hour shifts, by taking three hours off the night shift and adding these to the day shift. Although at the moment there is no official cut to pay, hours or jobs, the changes include a drive to increase productivity by removing the rest period included in the nightshift and increasing the work-load during the day.

A leaked management document reveals that the new shift changes are only a prelude to drastic cuts to the fire service that will be announced as part of the Conservative/Liberal Democrat government’s austerity budget. The document notes that making the night and day shifts of an equal length will allow the transfer of personnel from night shifts to day shifts, a reduction in the number of fire engines by 10 and even the closure of fire stations during the night.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/sep2010/lond-s21.shtml

[gateley]

1. Reagan. nt

[leveymg]

6. Thatcher - Reagan was the apt student. The pattern repeats itself, I'm afraid.

Coming to the USA, next. Get ready for a repeat of the 1960s burning cities, but this time, I suspect the firemen won't be there in sufficient numbers to put out the flames.

[DCKit]

8. Series!1!1!!!1 They began "school reform" long before the U.S.....

and my friends in the U.K. are horrified at the result.

[Hannah Bell]

12. already happened in the 70s in select areas, now happening in detroit & elsewhere.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9172531

[Starry Messenger]

2. Who the eff would piss off firefighters?

We need to start joining forces with workers in England. We seem to be living a parallel neoliberal existence.

[whistler162]

4. This has been going on for 5 years....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/aug/20/london-firefighters-ballot-industrial-action

http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/news/NewsReleases2009_PR1403.asp

"The proposals aim to increase the amount of time available to carry out essential training and community fire safety work during the day shift by reducing the current 15 hour night shift to 12 hours, and increasing the current nine-hour day shift to 12 hours. A full questions and answers sheet is available from the London Fire Brigade press office."

Not sure who is right on the issue. As a perspective many paid US firefighting departments work 24 hour shifts followed by x days off.

[LooseWilly]

3. "London Bridge is burning down, burning down..."

I know those aren't the right lyrics... they just jumped to mind...

[Vidar]

5. Might be a good time to burn Parliament.

[Poll_Blind]

7. What the hell?! London. Fire. Fire. London. What the hell?!

:wtf:

PB

[marmar]

9. Where's this man when you need him?

[lunatica]

10. This reminds me of the Great Fire of London in 1666

Although it did help stop the Plague. Or so I was taught in school.

Don't people in government understand that if you cut police crime will rise and if you overload or cut firefighters fires will destroy more? I mean, what about this logic is so hard to understand?

[Hannah Bell]

13. they understand that very well. fire = elite policy tool.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9172531

[girl gone mad]

11. yeesh.