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PRESS RELEASE 11.05.04 Firefighters on Strike? Not necessarily. The agreement between the FBU and the National Employers which brought an end to the FBU Strike Action in 2002/3 looks likely to break down with FBU members voting on possible strike action at their conference this week. Should industrial action be agreed at their conference it will not affect all firefighters in the UK just as it didn’t in the industrial action of 2002/3, due to non-FBU members continuing to work as normally or in some capacity by providing cover solely in their own areas. While we would agree that morale in the fire service is at its lowest point for the majority of firefighters whether they are on the Wholetime or Retained Duty system, the blame has to be laid at the door of the FBU and the National Employers. The RFU is willing to be part of the modernisation process but for our members change is either being restricted or progressed too slow for personnel to see any effects. Firefighters on the Retained Duty system have seen their response fee reduced over the past 6 months, their incentive to gain promotion and undertake responsibility quashed and in some cases been restricted as to how much cover they are allowed to provide. Crewing not only remains 20% (CIPFA Stats) short of its authorised establishment level but the new rule restricting personnel to provide a maximum of 120hours availability per week will see that shortfall increase.
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