To Thank and Reflect... As the end of the current 96 hour Firefighter strike draws to an end, I thought it poignant to reflect on something which has affected me more than I thought. As many of you may know, I wrote a letter to all of you, the public explaining why I had chosen to take part in Industrial Action. I then used mainly social media and Twitter to try and spread the message and at least get my point across to as many as possible. I could never have imagined the response I would get. It was truly overwhelming. I have had an enormous amount of support from all walks of life. The vast majority of people are behind us all the way. They feel we have been treated unfairly and hope the Government can see sense. There have obviously been a few who disagreed with what we are doing which to is fine. I’m a firm believer in being able to say what you want, to whomever, as long as you put it in a respectful way. Anyone who knows me personally will know I live by that. Most who disagreed were simply misinformed. Others just could not see our argument. Support came from Police and NHS workers. Obviously various Unions but what touched me the most is It came from people who had nothing to do with public services. Members of the public who have never needed us and may never will. Some just thanked us for what we did. Support has also come from Politicians, from Councillors to MPs, even the leaders of national parties. There was however, an absence of anybody affiliated to the Coalition which is of no surprise. I have a message back. I want to say Thank You. It has restored my faith in a country which is struggling to find its feet and where the ‘I don’t care if it doesn’t affect me’ attitude has become the current way of thinking. I never go looking for praise in my job, I have helped many people in their hour of need, spent what seems like hours talking to someone trapped in a car while we free them only to never see them again. We hear about them, that they are recovering, but we very rarely see them again. But that’s fine, it must be difficult for people to relive their experience and I only remind them of it, so just knowing I helped them is more than enough for me. Occasionally, we will get a card and a box of chocolates or something. That’s the one I struggle with. It’s always an honour and joy, to see someone healed and getting well, but being praised and thanked is something I know Firefighters struggle with. You see, we do it because we love our job, we want to help you and we will risk our lives doing it. At that time we aren’t thinking about pensions, cuts, the fact it’s a Sunday and we’re not with our families. We are committed to being there for you. That last couple of days are showing that you are there for us when we need you the most and from all Firefighters, we thank you. There has however being a dark side. In Buckinghamshire a FBU executive council member, Ricky Matthews, has being sacked for taking industrial action. The details are sketchy and it would be wrong of me to tell you what are for the moment just rumours. My thoughts are with him and his family and hope this is resolved soon. I hope it was just tensions running high and he will be reinstated in the coming days. A large obstacle we have faced are Chief Fire Officers trying to undermine our struggle. We all know they have a responsibility in their role but some have failed to find a balance. I feel the role of a Chief is to do what is best for the public and their Firefighters and this simply hasn’t been the case for some. They are more interested in their lives after the Fire and Rescue Service and upping their political profile. This only hurts Firefighters and public alike. However, some Chiefs have been very vocal in the recent days and I thank them for that and I ask others to follow. They haven’t forgotten that they were once Firefighters themselves and even though they may scupper any political ambitions by speaking out, have not been afraid to support us. Just remember that most, if not all of the members of the Fire and Rescue Service who speak out publically and condemn us have secure financial security where the new regulations do not affect them. They will retire soon and live on what they are criticising us for fighting for. So go on, ask them about, they soon shut up. It’s not clear what impact this round of strikes have had on the Government or even what the next move is. I hope the FBU are considering the next move very carefully. I have read people saying that neither the FBU nor Government will back down. This is not helpful and not true. It is not a game of chicken and we do not see it like that. The FBU have always being willing to negotiate with anyone anytime, anywhere policy. You must not forget it is the Government who will not negotiate in any way. Throughout this dispute, their first offer has been their last and only offer. So once again, I ask Eric Pickles to allow Penny Mordaunt to get back round the table. They need to find out the offers being put to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Stop making us out to be unreasonable people. The vast majority of the public are seeing through your spin. We can avoid a miserable Christmas but the ball is in your court as it has always been. I implore you as a Firefighter, a member of the public and a voter to resolve this immediately. STUKFS The truth is out there.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 09:08:09 +0000
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