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[Vamps]

Is there a reason the Military are not helping out now?

Up here there is to be a mixture of Auxiliary Fire Fighters and the use of non striking and recently retired Fire Fighters, (a conflict of interests surely)  not sure if Retained Fire Fighters are on strike or not.....

[Gaffers]

not worth training hundreds of soldiers for 4 hours of cover.  Better to use people who are already trained for a short period.

Besides, it is a disgrace that soldiers on £19k, who themselves have had their pensions slashed, have to put themselves at risk in a job they have minimal training and experience to perform which is normally done by people who get more than twice that.

[05omegav6]

not worth training hundreds of soldiers for 4 hours of cover.  Better to use people who are already trained for a short period.

Besides, it is a disgrace that soldiers on £19k, who themselves have had their pensions slashed, have to put themselves at risk in a job they have minimal training and experience to perform which is normally done by people who get more than twice that.

Fair and very valid point...

If the firemen want to earn more, perhaps they should consider part time cash in hand work

Better still, legitimate work, paying the same extra tax penalties everyone else pays for working two or more jobs. That way, there might actually be more cash in the kitty to give them a pay rise

Better or worse, screwing the system only ends one way...

[dbdb]

not worth training hundreds of soldiers for 4 hours of cover.  Better to use people who are already trained for a short period.

Besides, it is a disgrace that soldiers on £19k, who themselves have had their pensions slashed, have to put themselves at risk in a job they have minimal training and experience to perform which is normally done by people who get more than twice that.

"There is a nationally agreed salary structure for firefighters. The starting salary for a trainee firefighter is £21,157. When full competence is achieved, this rises to £28,199. Higher rates apply for overtime."

"Regular Soldier
Regular soldiers receive over £275 a week in Phase 1 training, which rises to at least £17,767 a year depending on which Army job you do. Some roles get specialist pay, which can be worth at least an extra £19 per day. Your salary will increase annually as your career continues, regardless of promotion and extra responsibilities. Within five years you could reach the rank of Sergeant and earn up to £33,702. "

[05omegav6]

not worth training hundreds of soldiers for 4 hours of cover.  Better to use people who are already trained for a short period.

Besides, it is a disgrace that soldiers on £19k, who themselves have had their pensions slashed, have to put themselves at risk in a job they have minimal training and experience to perform which is normally done by people who get more than twice that.

"There is a nationally agreed salary structure for firefighters. The starting salary for a trainee firefighter is £21,157. When full competence is achieved, this rises to £28,199. Higher rates apply for overtime."

"Regular Soldier
Regular soldiers receive over £275 a week in Phase 1 training, which rises to at least £17,767 a year depending on which Army job you do. Some roles get specialist pay, which can be worth at least an extra £19 per day. Your salary will increase annually as your career continues, regardless of promotion and extra responsibilities. Within five years you could reach the rank of Sergeant and earn up to £33,702. "

How much extra do the firemen get for driving/specialist responsibilities etc?

Regardless of the foibles and failings of foreign policy, troops have alot more to deal with day to day in theatre

[MR MISTER]

Two totally different jobs, so comparing salaries is daft.
If the sqaddies were asked to provide cover for a longer period of strike action, I'm sure they would do it without worrying about pay differentials.

[albitz]

Better to get the squaddies to do what they are trained to do. Shoot the strikers.

[05omegav6]

Two totally different jobs, so comparing salaries is daft.
If the sqaddies were asked to provide cover for a longer period of strike action, I'm sure they would do it without worrying about pay differentials.

Totally different mindset as well

(and not a union in sight )

[05omegav6]

Better to get the squaddies to do what they are trained to do. Shoot the strikers.

Imagine what the UK would be like now if they had done that in the seventies...

Efficient, prosperous and very wealthy I suspect

[albitz]

Yep.

I don't believe that people (public sector workers servants) who receive their income via the taxpayer should have the right to go on strike.

[Sir Tigger KC]

Better to get the squaddies to do what they are trained to do. Shoot the strikers.

Imagine what the UK would be like now if they had done that in the seventies...

Efficient, prosperous and very wealthy I suspect

We'd have about half the population we have now!! 

[05omegav6]

Quite agree Albs

Better to get the squaddies to do what they are trained to do. Shoot the strikers.

Imagine what the UK would be like now if they had done that in the seventies...

Efficient, prosperous and very wealthy I suspect

We'd have about half the population we have now!! 

Exactly, less stress on the NHS, little need for a benefit system, zero unemployment, better wages...

Do our troops swear to defend the Realm from enemies foreign and domestic in the same way that the Americans do

Might actually give a remit for Albs suggestion... not sure where that would end though

[bootie]

Thought provoking. I was part of the 'squaddie' task force that stood in in the first fireman's strike.

Although all of us had rudimentary firefighting training, nothing could prepare us for what we came across, some couldn't hack it at all while others found they could, indeed some went on to join the fire service after completing their time in the mob as a direct result of that strike.

I hasten to add, this was the strike in 1977 which went on a lot longer that the then government would come to realise (and us, we were told only pack a weekend worth of civvies!).

I was in Brum from the November until the following January, the last month was taking the Green Goddesses back to the storage depot near Branston.

I think I can speak for most of my fellow squaddies when I say that we never once considered the money implications for ourselves, it was just a case of, there's a job, just get on and do it the best way we can.

[Varche]

What I found interesting was the reason for the industrial action, namely "having to work till 60 before getting pension".

I might have been able to perform firefighting duties ( carrying bodies out of burning buildings etc) aged 45  to 50. Not a cat in hells chance aged 55 to 60. Would I have been retired early on medical grounds/sacked?

[Marks DTM Calib]

Why do they have to continue in front line service, if things were properly structured then educational, admin etc jobs could easily keep them employed to 60 or idealy 65.

Real world is that terms and conditions of employment change througout peoples lives and you have two choices, accept them or find alternative employment.

I persoanly will never side with anybody who chooses to strike no matter what the reason and particularly when a union is involved (as they always inevitably are)