Britain's firefighters have not taken the Tories 6% wage freeze lying down. Their response was immediate.
Overtime bans were imposed up and down the country.
Resolutions began flooding central office calling for an "all-out strike".
While the Executive has decided to sit on the national strike call - at least for the time being - the rank-and-file pressure has been such that they have been forced to call a number of one-day stoppages.
DEAL But why have the firefighters acted so promptly? The answer lies in the agreement made with the Labour government back in 1977.
In that year, the FBU went on a 9-week long strike to recoup a drop in wages of 12.5% under Callaghan's 'Social Contract', AS a result Of the strike - whici was one of the most bitter of recent years- the FBU was taken out of the pay bargaining arena and guaranteed an average yearly increase of 20%.
KANKUTING This year, however, the employers began to backtrack on the agreement. They announced that the BU would have to accept less than the 20% and called for between 3,500 and 4,000 redundancies Friction was already beginning to develop when the Tories stepped in and let the employers off the hook by imposing the 6% freeze. Such a freeze means, in effect, that the agreement negotiated 3 years ago has been thrown into the rubbish bin.
ANGER It is not just the question of pay, however, which has angered the rank-and-file so deeply. As Jim Fitzpatrick (union secretary, Battersea explains, the changes in conditions and redundancies tied to the deal mean that "the whole Juture of the service is at stake".
It is this which has led to the spontaneous imposition of over time bans in area after area and the call for a national strike.
SOLIDARITY As the firefighters prepare for another 'winter of discontent', however, it is vital that they are struggle against the 6% - and for a decently-staffed fire service - is in the interests of all public sector workers.
The TUC has already expressed its support for the firefighters case as have leading public sector trade unionists such as David Basnett and Alan Fisher. Words, however, are not enough. What is needed is action; What is needed is a united public sector response to the 6% wage нов d ernment in its tracks.
Socialist Action PAPERING OVER