Throughout the day messages of support have been flooding in for firefighters striking over the government’s unsafe, unfair and unworkable proposals on pensions.
John McDonnell MP said: “Firefighters have my 100% backing for the industrial action they have been forced to take this week and I will be joining local FBU picket lines to support my local firefighters in their campaign to protect their pension rights.
“All the evidence demonstrates the physically arduous and dangerous nature of the work firefighters undertake. Forcing these dedicated professionals to work beyond their physical capacity not only puts their health at risk it also increases the risk to safety of the general public. I am urging the Government to see sense and get back to the negotiating table for constructive discussion to resolve this dispute.”
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “There are many reasons why the government shouldn’t be pressing ahead with these unfair and ill-thought out changes, with concerns about the likely impact on safety surely top of the list.
“Being able to save people from burning buildings or rescue them from the scene of a multiple vehicle pile-up requires not just bravery, but a good deal of physical strength too.”
Vaxhaull MP Kate Hoey said: “No-one should be expected to do what firefighters do without being fully fit.
“The age limit has worked well and I would urge the Fire Minister to recognise that not only will firefighters’ health be put at risk, but the general public will be at risk too if these changes are forced through.
“Common sense demands that the Government get round the negotiating table again to solve this dispute as soon as possible.”
Robert F Monks, General Secretary of the Unite Road Transport Union said: “We in the URTU are forever appreciative of the hazardous work that FBU members undertake to ensure the safety of road users in the UK.”
Mark Serwotka, General Secretary of trade union PCS, said: “PCS offers its full solidarity to FBU members in their strike today in defence of the vital service they provide to us all.
“The attack on your pensions is the same attack made by government across the public sector, which seeks to recover the costs of the bank crash from the pockets of tomorrow’s pensioners. It is an assault on your members, their future and the vital public service they deliver heroically.”
John F. Smith, General Secretary of the Musicians’ Union, said: “The MU sends it’s solidarity and support to all FBU members in their struggle for fair pensions and a sensible and reasonable retirement age.”
Maggie Seraj from Unison South Manchester Hospitals Branch said: “We wish you every success in achieving your main aim which is a fair pension to a group of people for whom we can all be eternally grateful for the work that you do. Your skill and the fact that you put yourself in danger every time you turn out is a commendable act of bravery and should be recognised by the whole of the country.”
Paul Kenny, General Secretary of trade union GMB, said: “It is clear and unequivocal that we support the Fire Brigades Union position on its call for justice on their pensions and, I think people are particularly mystified and somewhat angry that the Government ignored the findings of their own review, when raising the retirement age to sixty for fire fighters who have one of the most difficult and dangerous jobs in our public services, defending as they do and protecting the lives of so many.”
Mike Creek, Secretary of the Ilfracombe and District Trades Union Council, said: “Best wishes to you and your members with their pay campaign, totally supported by this local TUC.”
On behalf of the Institute for Employment Rights, Treena Johnson said: “We wish the FBU every success in their pensions dispute.”
Len McCluskey, General Secretary of the trade union Unite, said: “People across the country know that the service provided by members of the Fire Brigades Union is a vital one and that the decision to take strike action is a difficult one for your union.
“We recognise the importance of your struggle in fighting off this attempt to make firefighters work longer, pay more and get less. By standing together across the trade union movement we can fight for better public services, and for the people who work hard to deliver those services to be treated decently.”
John Hannett, General Secretary of the trade union Usdaw, said: “I wish you and your members every success with the action, and with the firefighters’ march and rally to be held at Westminster on Wednesday 16 October.”
Pam Black, President of the Society of Radiographers, said: “We agree with you that the changes imposed on the firefighters pension scheme is nothing more than a cynical attack on your members’ terms and conditions of employment. The government is simply ignoring all the evidence — even their own —about the physical demands of firefighting and have been unable to answer your concerns during two years of negotiations.”
