Firefighters strike for one hour on Saturday morning (From Southend Standard)

Striking for one hour in the middle of the night. LOL! I bet they didn't even get out of bed. Selfish and lazy. Well done.

jackthehat223 wrote:
Striking for one hour in the middle of the night. LOL! I bet they didn't even get out of bed. Selfish and lazy. Well done.

Let's just hope you don't ever need the help of selfish and lazy people risking their lives to save yours. They are only doing this to prevent cuts to the service that you may need some day.

Smudge0407 wrote:

jackthehat223 wrote:
Striking for one hour in the middle of the night. LOL! I bet they didn't even get out of bed. Selfish and lazy. Well done.

Let's just hope you don't ever need the help of selfish and lazy people risking their lives to save yours. They are only doing this to prevent cuts to the service that you may need some day.

'risking their lives?' they are very well paid for doing a job and are not being forced to do it - there are plenty of people who would be grateful to be on their sort of wages.

Lunacy of the first degree, when will they EVER learn ?

Weeks on strike and years to recover the financial loss ??

Bring in the army,although last time they were boored with doing nothing all day,even though they had old out of date
equipment.There are going to be
quite a few redundant army
personnel who wouldnt mind being boored for those wages.

Its the same with everything, look at when the border agency went on strike, the replacements did the job better and far more efficiently

ethel the frog wrote:

Smudge0407 wrote:

jackthehat223 wrote:
Striking for one hour in the middle of the night. LOL! I bet they didn't even get out of bed. Selfish and lazy. Well done.

Let's just hope you don't ever need the help of selfish and lazy people risking their lives to save yours. They are only doing this to prevent cuts to the service that you may need some day.

'risking their lives?' they are very well paid for doing a job and are not being forced to do it - there are plenty of people who would be grateful to be on their sort of wages.

I am a serving firefighter. I don't think Firefighters are alone in risking their lives to save a complete stranger. A few other occupations do the same. I see first hand what cuts are doing to the service. A reduction in front line staff, while back room office staff have increased over forty percent in the last few years. If we don't stand up for the service we are committed to, then who will? As for your statement regarding the high pay rates and the vast amount of people who would do this job. It is adequately paid, firefighters are on £28,000 per year. Not over the top by any means. For a qualified firefighter on shift duties, this is the lowest rate in the emergency services. You state many people would love to do the job. Well the recruitment process is open to all but there are select qualities required that many people may not possess. I suspect by your disrespect for those who may risk their live for you, that you are probably I'll informed and ignorant to a dispute which has gone on for over four years. Why not pop in to a station where staff will gladly explain the problems we have trying to maintain an acceptable level of response. The staff on the one hour strike left service premises at four on the morning to return at five as per trade union rules. Please don't **** about it but come and speak to those at the sharp end of the biggest emergency service cut in history.

£28,000 is more than adequate for 2 days & 2 nights work. Yes I have the upmost resect for the fire service, but these changes are required for a modern and cost effective service. Post's are being lost, nobody is actually losing their job. Are you actually saying that nothing has changed over the last 30 years with regards to fire prevention etc. etc. Canvey fully retained, Brentwood 1 whole time 1 retained this is proof surely that the risk factor has changed for the better over the years. If not then the country as a whole has a lot to answer for.

The fireman do an excellent job they deserve every penny they get even if they only go to one incident per shift and either risk their life OR save a life they deserve good pay WHICH THEY GET they also have ample time off to work second jobs which they do either building, gardening or working in shops serving customers paint etc.
HOWEVER efficiency need to be considered like they have been in every other state run establishment the reason is simple we have run out of money.

The fireman should stop listening to the Bolshvics within their union who seem intent on striking at every opportunity.

Stop listening and start looking at what you actually have, what little many hard working trades people have actually got compared to what they earnt 8 years ago THEY EARN LESS NOW THAN 8 YEARS AGO !

GET REAL FIREMAN YOU NEED TO BE TOLD THE TRUTH WHICH I BELIEVE MOST OF YOU ALREADY KNOW!!!!

You get your money regular and do second jobs MOST GET LESS PAY AND SOME NOW GET NO PAY.

firedog wrote:
Bring in the army,although last time they were boored with doing nothing all day,even though they had old out of date
equipment.There are going to be
quite a few redundant army
personnel who wouldnt mind being boored for those wages.

So the Army that has been cutback to seriously low levels are going to cover firefighters duties....I dont think so. There are so few firefighters posts available that redundant soldiers are not needed. The firefighters are a least trying to fight and preserve what they have because the way its going no one will have a job soon.

fletch12107 wrote:

firedog wrote:
Bring in the army,although last time they were boored with doing nothing all day,even though they had old out of date
equipment.There are going to be
quite a few redundant army
personnel who wouldnt mind being boored for those wages.

So the Army that has been cutback to seriously low levels are going to cover firefighters duties....I dont think so. There are so few firefighters posts available that redundant soldiers are not needed. The firefighters are a least trying to fight and preserve what they have because the way its going no one will have a job soon.

Fetch your Heart is correct but you are missing a beat!

We are cutting back on all public servants, the reason is simple we are not producing enough money to pay them all.

Smudge0407 wrote:

ethel the frog wrote:

Smudge0407 wrote:

jackthehat223 wrote:
Striking for one hour in the middle of the night. LOL! I bet they didn't even get out of bed. Selfish and lazy. Well done.

Let's just hope you don't ever need the help of selfish and lazy people risking their lives to save yours. They are only doing this to prevent cuts to the service that you may need some day.

'risking their lives?' they are very well paid for doing a job and are not being forced to do it - there are plenty of people who would be grateful to be on their sort of wages.

I am a serving firefighter. I don't think Firefighters are alone in risking their lives to save a complete stranger. A few other occupations do the same. I see first hand what cuts are doing to the service. A reduction in front line staff, while back room office staff have increased over forty percent in the last few years. If we don't stand up for the service we are committed to, then who will? As for your statement regarding the high pay rates and the vast amount of people who would do this job. It is adequately paid, firefighters are on £28,000 per year. Not over the top by any means. For a qualified firefighter on shift duties, this is the lowest rate in the emergency services. You state many people would love to do the job. Well the recruitment process is open to all but there are select qualities required that many people may not possess. I suspect by your disrespect for those who may risk their live for you, that you are probably I'll informed and ignorant to a dispute which has gone on for over four years. Why not pop in to a station where staff will gladly explain the problems we have trying to maintain an acceptable level of response. The staff on the one hour strike left service premises at four on the morning to return at five as per trade union rules. Please don't **** about it but come and speak to those at the sharp end of the biggest emergency service cut in history.

Smudge0407 I agree with most of your comments but have to correct you regarding the pay aspect. I think you will find that ambulance emergency workers are by far the lowest paid of the three main emergency services and do not enjoy many of the financial perks and enhanced pay rates at Christmas and other public holidays that the Police and Fire Service do. Just another day for us !