FURTHER STRIKES AS SUFFOLK MEMBERS DEFEND SERVICE

fBU members and officials urged to do what they can to support sisters and brothers in Suffolk

The campaign by Suffolk FBU members against cuts in fire cover and against job losses continues.

Further strike action is planned this weekend as detailed below:

Members elsewhere in the UK are urged to do all they can to support our brothers and sisters in Suffolk.

Details of the Suffolk Hardship Fund are:

Cheques should be made payable to The Suffolk Hardship Fund, and sent to our Hardship Fund co-ordinator:

Officials are encouraged to do the collections, but cheques from individuals are also welcome.

Messages/resolutions of support for Suffolk members can be emailed to Suffolk brigade chair, Vince Jell

Suffolk fire crews have held a series of successful strikes since voting two to one in favour of strike action in a ballot over plans to cut 12 frontline emergency response firefighter posts.

The cuts by the fire authority will endanger firefighters and the public for years to come.

Control regionalisation costs soar to £2 billion

The costs of FiReControl, the Government’s madcap regional fire control project are soaring to new heights.

During a visit to an emergency fire control room in Winsford this week Fire Service Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said the “initial outlay” on regional fire control rooms would amount to a staggering £2 billion.

Eight months ago they were to cost £754 million, according to the ODPM’s Outline Business case. Then in June, the ODPM let slip that they had risen to £988 million. Now they’ve doubled, up by £1 billion! www.iccheshireonline.co.uk

Control campaign stepping up in regions

Building on solid popular support for their 11-month local campaign against regional fire controls, members in Cumbria are stepping up their lobbying and petitioning efforts over the coming weeks.

Control staff and firefighters will be descending on Carlisle city centre on Saturday 27 August to gather signatures and on the Sunday will be heading to Ambleside fire station, which is having an open day. On Monday 29 August, they’ll be hitting Keswick agricultural show.

Meetings have also been set up with local MPs in their constituencies – and less supportive MPs will see FBU members invading their surgeries anyway.

In Devon, FBU members are going petitioning in Torquay on Wednesday 24 August and Plymouth on Monday 5 September.

Control members and officials are also visiting fire stations to raise awareness of the campaign - and encouraging more members to join the campaign.

Also, Devon MPs, the chief officer and fire authority chief are being lobbied while, just as their Cumbria colleagues are doing, the local FBU and activists are pulling all the stops out to keep the issue high on the agenda of the local media.

Visit www.controlcare.org.uk for news and information about the Union’s Campaign Against Regional Fire Controls. The website includes campaign materials such as model letters to chief officers and fire authorities.

Also, follow the Lobby Your MP link on the websitea and email your MP, highlighting the dangerous push forward on the FiReControl project and the outrageous timing during the summer parliamentary recess of the announcements of the site locations of seven regional fire control rooms in England.

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Last Modified: 7/04/08 10:50,