BB FANS

Are the firefighters losing public support? I have had numerous people say to me today "when was the last time we had an 11% pay increase"

Your views please.

If most people risked their lives as part of their jobs they would expect more than 11%

What about nurses tho? Damn sure I wouldn't work in an A&E dept these days! Or teachers?

Playing devil's advocate

The firefighters have been offered 4% now, and 7% next November on the condition that they rearrange night cover.

This means that firefighters would be sent home at night if they were not busy, which is a terrible thing to do.

Two nights ago, about 10 miles from where I live there was a huge blaze in a warehouse, neighbouring houses were emptied due to the smoke. 70 firefighters tackled the blaze and brought it under control after 4 hours.

If the firefighters were at home in bed, they would have to get up and dressed, drive (if they can drive!) to the fire station and then be debriefed and sent to the fire. How many lives could be lost?

This is a subject very close to my heart as my OH works for the fire service. He isn't after an extortionate wage, just something suitable for the work done!

By the way, John Prescott said that it was totally unrealistic for the firefighters to want a 40% pay increase and that it was selfish in the extreme to ask for it, but does anyone remember the MPs (John Prescott included) gave themselves a 40% pay rise last year because they deserved it!?!?!?!?!

Exactly Janette.
My Dad's a firefighter and has been for 26 years - he'd only just begun firefighting when the last stike happened 25 years ago.
He came home tonight just after 6, and he is so depressed about the whole thing. He's got no choice to go on strike, but he said he's going to feel awful tomorrow night, knowing he should be at work, but he won't be. He's so dedicated - it's totally against his morals to go on strike, but ho hum.

They do deserve a wage rise, I couldn't say how much though. My Dad's been hospitalised before because of accidents when he's been on duty. He was in a flashover a couple of months after I was born and had to have about 3 months off work.

I'm really hoping the general public don't turn against firefighters though. They've been receiving such a pasting in my local newspaper's letters' page recently. Some of the comments made me so angry, I had to reply to them yesterday!
fingers crossed the situation gets sorted out ASAP.

What people don't seem to realise is that a 40% pay rise would bring their pay up to 30k pa....I don't think that's too much to ask really...It's shocking that they only get about 18k at the moment.
That might seem alot to some people but try living in London on 30k, let alone 18.
I think they deserve more than 30kpa considering the job they do....I know people who sit at a desk all day playing on the net that get paid more than that

*devils advocate so don't jump on me*

What about the armed forces who fight for their country? They don't get 21K.... they are not allowed to strike and don't get negotiated pay rises.

I think it's unfair. It's a shame they can't have the option to strike too..There should be fair pay for nurses, teachers and all the other people we have to rely on.
I see in the news today they're making a big deal about 3 people losing their lives in fires since the strike began....well how do we know they wouldn't have died anyway?
I wouldn't run into a blazing house to save complete strangers for 18k.
I don't think what they're asking for the dangerous job they do is too much.

I would never jump on you Scots...you gave birth breech style and didn't even have an epidural!!!!

But where does it stop? Nurses aren't getting enough, the armed forces CERTAINLY aren't getting enough. If they give the ff's 40% you'll have everyone up in arms.

@ breech!

It's a dilema

Rome wasn't built in a day so they say. God knows where it's gonna end. Nothing's fair in this world.

The firefighters get my support 100%. However, I would like to highlight to my fellow BBFans friends that I am a qualified district nurse:

I have an honours degree, a postgraduate degree with a specialist practitioner qualification, a diploma and I am dual qualified (i.e. a registered general nurse and registered mental nurse) with 14 years experience as a nurse. I am currently responsible for providing and prescribing care to 56 patients and their families in the community, and this predominantly involves looking after patients who are dying.

Do you know what my salary is? £19,000.

I sincerely wished nurses could strike like the firefighters. Anyone regarded as an essential emergency worker needs to be paid appropriately and be recognised that the work that they do provide is essential. You know what really makes me mad is when I see the likes of footballers, pop artists, models etc earning silly amounts of money. If someone was to shoot this lot would society be in dire straits? I think not.

Give the firemen and women the money they deserve and pay us nurses an acceptable wage too.

Sermon over!!!

hear hear!!!


but imo, the government or, Mr blair, cant yeild to what the firefighters want becos 1, its too contriversal now, and 2, if other unions and important institutes of society see that just by striking, then they'll do the same, and the demands would get worse!

Its like blackmail, but where would it stop???

Cer, I fully agree. I think if they did give the firefighters 40% pay rise, then all the other public sectors would be out on strike too. It would just cause a massive disaster. Imagine if nurses went on strike?

At the end of the day though, firefighters and nurses NEED to have their pay brought in line with that of teachers and the police who are on larger salaries.

oh yea, i couldnt agree more, i think that the firefighters, and nurses derserve more!!! much more!!! but its the way to get it that is a bit of a problem! The gov cant just fork out loads of extra money from the money tree, its disoppointing really, cos the jobs they and u do are so important.