Firefighters to Strike...

[malolos]

My Mrs is working nights this Sunday - Tuesday and she doesn't have a grasping union making unrealistic demands

Spot on Les - Joe's in his usual govt/employer bashing fantasy land. Nigh on impossible to get into the fire service - too many takers - I wonder why ?

The reason it's hard to get into Fire and Rescue now is the higher educational standards required. Many candidates would simply not be selected nowadays, as the idiots running the show want thinkers not hands on.

If a F/f is injured and pensioned off, he will not get a full pension under the new rules. Would you fight to preserve your pension or just take less?

How much is a firefighter's life worth when you have to tell his wife and children their dad's not coming home because he got killed saving someone else, or their mother's not coming home??

If a serious incident occurs during a strike period, the picket line is left to respond, fact.

Any second job has to be approved, but if you injure yourself doing it that's your problem not the brigade's and - as for not doing anything all day - you have to study a lot more due to increased risks and be able to operate all equipment as the old school of being on a particular appliance has long gone.

[malolos]

No need to say it, it's taken as read. Remember massive strikes years ago, soldiers to the rescue having to man the green godesses.

And why did they go on strike Les?

[les_taxi]

Can't remember to be honest. The point is, the soldiers covered the emergencies. Why I rate servicemen over fireman every time.

But to reiterate, they do a great job do firemen - all the Emergency services do.

[malolos]

Can't remember to be honest. The point is, the soldiers covered the emergencies. Why I rate servicemen over firemen every time.

But to reiterate, they do a great job do firemen - all the Emergency Services do.

Hi Les,

They lagged way behind on the pay increase structure. This was confirmed by the governments report [Bain Report] and were told all increases were to be applied in the future.

[les_taxi]

No problem with them getting a wage increase.

I actually do think all the vital services should be the best-paid jobs in the land. Yet lawyers, sportsmen, IT people etc., get paid far more.

[Dedworth]

If that's true, and Dedworth's neighbour can get £20 o\t then why is he doing another second job , maybe there is no O/T to be done

and £29kyr wouldn't buy you much up norf never mind in Berks

3 little ones, 3 motors, Mrs is a full time housewife and the cushy, short hours, well-paid public sector fire service job gives him enough time in Joe's words to "moonlight" with his own driving instructor business. Good luck to the bloke, he's working the system

[Arthur Little]

I don't see a problem with that, people aged sixty are not exactly geriatric....

that sixty's still within the age range for carrying out a fairly wide variety of (mainly office) jobs ... but it's far, far too old to be engaged in work where people's lives are at stake.

[Arthur Little]

Personally, I would prefer no one worked full time after they turned 60 ... thereby creating more employment opportunities for youngsters.

[Arthur Little]

Personally, I would prefer no one worked full time after they turned 60 ... thereby creating more employment opportunities for youngsters.

ain't gonna come to pass ... more's the pity!

[Michael Parnham]

Why should they? We're not in China or Russia, they have a legal right to protest or strike

You think you could do a fireman's job at 60 ?

Everyone is different at 60 Joe, yes I think I would have been ok at 60 can't speak for anyone else. Regarding strikes and unions always hated both, unions only brainwash you to go on strike and lose money you will never get back and when you are back at work if your job's still available nothing has really changed apart from heartache your family has gone through because of no money coming in.

Just my opinion Joe!

[joebloggs]

No need to say it, it's taken as read. Remember massive strikes years ago, soldiers to the rescue - having to man the green godesses.

What's the pay scale for those in the Army Les and at what age can they retire, is it 60?

[les_taxi]

What's the pay scale for those in the Army Les and at what age can they retire, is it 60?

No idea Joe - why is it even relevant?

I will say once again, did the people who became fireman choose to out of their free will or were they made to do the job?

Hate strikes and agree with Michael on that.
Like I said, we are lucky soldiers can't strike eh

[joebloggs]

Everyone is different at 60 Joe, yes I think I would have been ok at 60 can't speak for anyone else. Regarding strikes and unions always hated both, unions only brainwash you to go on strike and lose money you will never get back and when you are back at work if your job's still available nothing has really changed apart from heartache your family has gone through because of no money coming in.

Just my opinion Joe!

And you're entitled to your opinion Michael

My misses has seen a number of firemen and they all suffer problems with their back,

You think at 60 yrs old you could carry someone down a ladder wearing 70 pounds of gear ?

[joebloggs]

No idea Joe - why is it even relevant?

I will say once again, did the people who became fireman choose to out of their free will or were they made to do the job?

Hate strikes and agree with Michael on that.
Like i said we are lucky soldiers can't strike eh

Relevant because you keep comparing firemen to the Army.

Same for those who join the Army, no one forced them, so the point is irrelevant

[les_taxi]

What a load of .......s from you Joe as usual - you must be bored.

I have to get ready for a 15 hours shift - but hey, no one forces me to do it

The Army are not striking or whinging is the point I'm making.
To the public they give the ultimate sacrifice - yep fireman do a good and dangerous job - respect, but the Army command far more respect from me and most people I would expect.

I know a fireman who is a great lad but he has always considered himself lucky to have a job where most of the time it's laid back and since he did not have to work many hours he was able to pursue other interests.

Now he is retired with a good pension and does a bit of part time taxi driving. He will be about 60 I'm guessing and is as fit as a fiddle.

Right, shall I strike or get people to where they want to be since it's not fair I have to work all these hours

Tell you what, I will man up and work like most people.
Unions, strikers, left wing militants - bunch of losers Rest of us just get on with our jobs.

Have a nice day Comrade Joe, I'm off to work!

[joebloggs]

15-hr shift Les, so you drive for 15hrs?

[les_taxi]

No of course not, we get breaks - basically wait for jobs. I also go home for food etc. But at anytime I'm avaialble and often have to put my dinner down to go and do a job, then fire it back up in the microwave. I'm starting now and I have a booking for 2.30am Sunday.

Look after my customers - that's why I have so many

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[les_taxi]

I even rated myself

[Michael Parnham]

15-hr shift Les, so you drive for 15hrs?

Nothing wrong with working 15 hours or more, up to retiring Joe. I used to set off for work at 5am and most days not getting home until 10pm and never got paid extra, that was the job and it had to be done. There are many people in this world who do work very long hours just to serve the public and they get no rewards for their work and the public never see or realise that these people even exist!

[joebloggs]

Nothing wrong with working 15 hours or more, up to retiring Joe. I used to set off for work at 5 am and most days not get home until 10pm and never got paid extra, that was the job and it had to be done. There are many people in this world who do work very long hours just to serve the public and they get no rewards for their work and the public never see or realise that these people even exist!

Do you think some employers exploit their workers ? I don't know who you worked for but were they well off ? Did you work more hours than your contract stated ?

[les_taxi]

Unions are bullies. If a union causes others to suffer hardship and loss through promoting strike action, they don't give a toss. As long as they get what they want stuff everyone else.

[les_taxi]

Love it when people despise the well off yet if they came into money themselves they would sing a different tune. Hypocrisy comes to mind.

[Longweekend]

The union members lose pay when on strike, do the union employees...?

[SimonH]

And you're entitled to your opinion Michael

My misses has seen a number of firemen and they all suffer problems with their back,

You think at 60 yrs old you could carry someone down a ladder wearing 70 pounds of gear ?

Your comments never fail to make me laugh Joe

With all your union knowledge I'm surprised you're naive enough to think that all firemen have to run up and down ladders. I'm sure you'll come up with some irrelevant fact to counter my argument, but surely there are administrative jobs in the fire service that those who were too old or physically unable to run up and down ladders could do

Drive, inspect equipment, train the newbies

[SimonH]

I don't know who you worked for but were they well off ?

I y well hope so, most people start and run companies to earn a decent living

[joebloggs]

Your comments never fail to make me laugh Joe

With all your union knowledge I'm surprised you're naive to think that all firemen have to run up and down ladders. I'm sure you'll come up with some irrelevant fact to counter my argument but surely there are administrative jobs in the fire service that those who were too old or physically unable to run up and down ladders could do

Drive, inspect equipment, train the newbies

So now 1000's of firemen at the front end are all to get admin jobs

Why not the same for the police, the armed forces ?? Have you ever heard of the saying, "Too many chiefs, not enough Indians"? Next, Dedworth will be saying too many pen pushers not enough firemen

[joebloggs]

I y well hope so, most people start and run companies to earn a decent living

Yes, some by getting their workers to work extra hours for nothing and paying them below the minimum wage. Pity the workers don't get a decent living standard, I'm alright Jack!

[SimonH]

Yes, some by getting their workers to work extra hours for nothing and paying them below the minimum wage. Pity the workers don't get a decent living standard, I'm alright Jack!

The relevant word being 'some' not 'all' Unfortunately Joe, that's life. There're good guys and bad guys - that will never change!

[joebloggs]

No of course not, we get breaks - basically wait for jobs. I also go home for food etc. But at anytime I'm avaialble and often have to put my dinner down to go and do a job - then fire it back up in the microwave. I'm starting now and I have a booking for 2.30 am Sunday.

So you're like a retained fireman

A full rate contract is usually based on offering 120 hours of cover per week and a reduced rate contract attracting at least 75% of the retaining fee is payable for any other agreed level of cover.

http://www.fireservice.co.uk/recruit...d-firefighters

120 hrs a week

15-hr shift sounds so good Les, unlike my 8hr days of not been able to leave work

[joebloggs]

The relevant word being 'some' not 'all' Unfortunately Joe, that's life. There're good guys and bad guys, that will never change!

So you agree there must be employers out there who exploit their workers! Of course there are good ones who pay them a fair wage for a fair day's work.