We are in the middle of a national strike ballot on pay. The first in over 20 years.
The importance and significance of this is huge. We should remind ourselves how we ended up here. In the summer, despite rampant inflation, our employers made us a 2% pay offer. FBU members were shocked and insulted.
This offer came after firefighters and control staff had worked through the pandemic. Firefighters took on extra duties including, in some cases, moving the bodies of the deceased.
We held meetings across the country and the message that came back was clear. We needed to reject this 2% offer.
Having done that, we began to prepare a ballot for strike action. But on seeing our Fair Pay or Fire Strike campaign build, employers came back with a 5% pay offer. FBU members achieved a pay offer increase of 3% just by preparing a strike ballot. The strike ballot had not even opened.
HUGE REAL TERMS PAY CUT
But 5% still represents a huge real-terms pay cut. After years of derisory pay settlements, this was never going to be acceptable. And so it proved. FBU members categorically voted to reject the 5% pay offer in a consultative ballot in which 79% voted to reject on a 78% turnout. That’s huge.
The ballot period was only two weeks. This was a resounding decision by FBU members and showed remarkable strength of feeling.
I want to thank all our members for this result. I also want to thank FBU officials, who put huge amounts of effort into helping members exercise their vote and receive information on the issue.
Of course, the ball is still in the employers’ and government’s court. On receiving the result of the consultative ballot, I wrote to fire service employers to seek an urgent improved pay offer. I wrote to ministers and government departments asking for meetings for reasons including the urgent need for improved central government funding for fire and rescue services. I have not yet had a response.
FBU members categorically voted to reject the 5% pay offer in a consultative ballot in which 79% voted to reject on a 78% turnout. That’s huge.
The executive council quickly decided to move to a strike ballot to be launched on Monday 5 December to Monday 30 January. This was to ensure that members have enough time to receive and return their ballot papers, taking into account the impact of strikes in Royal Mail post services. Unlike the consultative ballot, ballots on industrial action can only be done by mail, not online.
As part of our pay campaign, in preparation for a yes vote in a strike ballot, a rally took place on 6 December at Methodist Central Hall in London, attended by FBU members from all parts of the UK before they headed over to the Houses of Parliament to lobby their MPs.
As we ramp up our efforts in this campaign, I want to hear from as many members as possible.
Having conversations about the impact of your pay, and the union’s strategy is my number one priority.
In mass meetings up and down the country, I have heard some shocking stories, of union officials having to refer firefighters to foodbanks. I know that FBU members will be faced with huge energy payments, just like the rest of the country, and that some will be struggling with mortgage payments.
It is not acceptable. Pay for firefighter and control staff must keep up. Strike action is always a last resort. But firefighters and control staff cannot go on like this.
We need to challenge the lie that public sector pay increases would cause inflation increases. The current rise in inflation is not caused by workers. Public sector workers have all faced the same pay restraint – so public sector pay cannot be driving inflation. It’s a farcical argument.
PROFITS OF LARGE CORPORATIONS
What is driving it, to a large extent, is the profits of large corporations.
We also need to confront head on the misinformation from some chief officers that a pay rise would mean cuts to services. We need an increase in funding for the fire and rescue service, full stop: to cover resources, appliances and more firefighters, as well as a decent pay rise. It’s not too much to ask when the service has been decimated for over a decade.
The public deserve a properly funded service that can keep them safe. And you deserve a pay rise. It should not be one or the other. What do I say to those chief fire officers pedalling untruths? I would ask them when they last demanded more money from the government ministers for the services that they represent.
I would ask them when they last demanded more money for their hardworking employees who deserve a decent pay rise.
As we enter this next phase, it is more important than ever that we stand together. Look what happened when we even threatened a strike ballot – we got an extra 3%.
Workers organising is the only way for workers to win. And so it is proving again.
