Gains for the FBU
Posted on Monday, September 27, 2010 at 11:08am
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AS PEOPLE who read this blog will know, I have been campaigning for some time with Plaid members in the Maesteg area against the changes to the rostering system at Nantyffyllon Fire Station. Labour party members in the area have tried to say that Plaid were in favour of the Fire Authority’s plans, but this was not – and is not – the case.
The fact that people from political parties across the spectrum have been putting pressure on the Fire Authority not to adopt these new plans has led to the situation whereby the Fire Authority’s executive rejected the plans last week, and agreed to put forward the FBU’s alternative idea at today’s meeting.
The lobby of the fire authority that was meant to happen today has therefore been cancelled. The FBU progressed with its campaign against cuts by the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service but, as we know, the dispute began when management went ahead with a public consultation exercise which included the imposition of a self-rostering duty system. This could have imposed 96 hour shifts on fire crews, and management failed to consult the trade union, according to discussions I have had with them.
Talks are now going to start this week following a robust response from the FBU who held a consultative ballot about taking industrial action supported by a public campaign against cuts in firefighters jobs, and the unacceptable changes to the working patterns. The consultative ballot for strike action is still live and a decision is expected soon, but I hear that strike action is now far less likely given that the FBU’s alternative is being put to the Fire Authority members today. Well done to all those who have supported the FBU and the firefighters in this campaign.
