Quote:
Originally Posted by ukturtle
Because it's the time when they will be listened to most.
For putting their lives at risk, I believe they should have more pay. We have footballers and bankers who are paid an over the top wage, yet somebody who puts their life on the line to save countless others is paid pittance.
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Firemen, policemen, nurses, teachers, etc etc all
CHOSE their professions - they were not frog marched to their interviews, nor had a gun to their head when they accepted the jobs, along with the terms and conditions which include generous subsidised housing, mortgages, and nice fat pensions, two thirds of which are funded by the taxpayer. Perhaps they would all prefer to join the dole queue and free up positions for those who would be grateful for such generous salary packages. After all no formal academic qualifications are required for entry into the fire service, and they offer free ongoing training throughout a fireman's career.
Holding the country to ransom yet again doesn't inspire any sympathy from me, especially in an economic climate where millions are unemployed and where workers in the private sector are being made redundant every day. I hope the government take swift action to bring in legislation to outlaw strikes in the emergency services. Bully boy tactics are reactionary and cynical and deserve no-one's support. After all striking on 5th November is a deliberate ploy to blackmail the country- so I hope they do NOT get what they want.
How considerate of them to withdraw their services on the one night they might actually have to get their arses in gear and actually do some fire fighting. And for the record, I was married to a fireman for 12 years and know full well that, despite what some would have you believe, most shifts are totally uneventful or otherwise consist of minor incidents.
As for comparing firemen's wages with those of footballers and bankers, don't let's forget actors, pop stars, models etc etc. What does that have to do with the price of bacon? How many people are aware, for instance, how little workers in the retail, distribution and catering sectors earn?