[Janette]

My OH works for the fire service and it looks like they will be striking even though it was a hard decision to make for many of the union members.

They don't want to endanger people's lives but they haven't even had a pay review for over 20 years!

Fire-fighters are classed as manual workers and therefore get a manual worker's salary.

Teachers, police officers and train drivers are classed as professional workers and get a hell of a lot more than fire-fighters.

If the government would just give them a decent pay rise instead of the insulting 4% that they have offered, then the fire-fighters would not be going on strike!

[Amy]

Lots of people i know are firefighters and i agree with this strike! I cannot believe that for the job they do they are so under paid it's just not right!!!!!!

[Sticks]

Sorry but a 40% claim is totally unrealistic, there is no way that could ever be allowed to be met, especially when inflation is only 2%.

Please see this link for a statement by the Deputy Priminister

[Janette]

I wonder how much he earns!!!!!!!

I'm sorry but shop managers, teachers, police officers, train drivers and civil servents get more money than people who put their lives at risk every single day in order to keep us safe!

Fire-fighters work 46 hours a week for what averages £6.68 an hour!

The average footballer in the premiership earns about £1,250 an hour!

Where is the sense?

[Amy]

To prove a point here as a supervisor in retail i earn more than a fire-fighter now you can't tell me that is right!!!???

[Mairi]

My feelings are really mixed on this one as I HATE strikes, always have done. But, in this case, I believe the fire-fighters have no option. £6.68 an hour is a poor reward for putting your life on the line.

[Sticks]

You can do these comparisons until the cows come home.

The current rate of inflation is 2% and wage increases need to stick around that level, a 40% wage demand is fantasy land. To grant it will lead to wage inflation as other sectors pile in. This is totaly unsustainable and economically dangerous.

It is notable that the Retained firefighters union has opted not to strike but to continue with negotiations.

[susieq]

The current rate of inflation is 2% and wage increases need to stick around that level

I think most people understand the correlation between wages and inflation but (and this is a BIG but!), the fire fighters have not had a review of their pay for nearly 20 years - which other sector of industry has fallen so far behind? I think the 40% figure is to make the general public aware of the fact that a fire fighters wage has decreased, in real terms, by that much over the last two decades.

They are trying to get back to what their true position should have been if their pay had been regularly reviewed and had risen as it should have.

I think most people would understand that our emergency services are underpaid when you look at other public sector workers, i.e. Civil Servants, Government employees (both local and national) and Government Ministers for that matter. I work in the NHS and am not earning a vast fortune but I have no qualms whatsoever about a fire fighter earning more money than I do - I think it's only right and proper. I sit at my desk, use my computer, and manage a team of staff, hardly a life saving role.

I think they DESERVE to get a rise in excess of the current inflation figure. I think they DESERVE to get a wage that more accurately reflects the tough, hard, important role they perform. I think they DESERVE to be listened to in an adult, non patronising manner. I think they DESERVE a wage that brings them more in line with the rises we have all enoyed over the last 20 years.

Who amongst us can say, hand on heart, that our current salary is only worth, in real terms, what we were paid 20 years ago. I know I couldn't and I suspect most of you couldn't either.

The fire fighters ARE a special case, in my opinion, and should be treated as such.

[Janette]

Originally posted by Sticks
Sorry but a 40% claim is totally unrealistic, there is no way that could ever be allowed to be met, especially when inflation is only 2%.

Please see this link for a statement by the Deputy Priminister

My OH has just reminded me that the deputy prime minister awarded himself a 40% pay rise last year along with other MP's because, and I quote, "We're worth it"


Nuff said!

[steve_o]

Chill out everyone please don't bring politics onto the bb website. It's a pain in the bottom lol. People falling out over bb yep ok but not what the useless governments of any party will do for anyone, but at the end of the day for themselves and there own interests

[susieq]

I don't think anyone's falling out Steve (at least I'm not falling out with anyone) but I think that bringing a topic that's a current (albeit possibly contentious) issue into a public arena is no bad thing.

I know we come to this board to chat about all things BB - that's why we like it so much but I also feel that we can chat about other topics and express our opinions. After all our opinions and thoughts on things as diverse as Big Brother, Pop Idol and, yes, even politics, make us what we are. I think it's good to know that we can chat about most things in an open way that fosters lively debate without it becoming objectionable or trading personal insults.

We debate lots of things here don't we? we all have our opinions. Are Kate & Spencer this years Posh and Becks? Will Lee & Sophie still be together this time next year? Do the firefighters deserve a decent wage? Its the same principle just applied to a different topic. I hope we all feel that we can take part in any debate and remain friends.

Sorry - rant over!!

[steve_o]

Ok sorry I spoke, thanks for the lecture. thats put me firmly in my place.