The Executive Council of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is recommending that its members accept an improved pay offer from the employers.
88% of FBU members voted ‘yes’ to strike action on a 73% turnout, with 94% voting ‘yes’ in Northern Ireland. Undoubtedly, this massive vote for strike action, following the mobilisation of over 2,000 members to lobby MPs in December, which marched to parliament, has shown the preparedness of firefighters to take action and forced this improvement.
However, while recommending the pay offer, the union’s leadership accept that the 7% for the current year is below inflation. It is actually considerably lower than RPI inflation, which has been higher than 14%. The offer would be better if for next year it was 5% or RPI inflation, whichever is the greater.
The improved offer has shown that a determined response from workers and their unions, backed by the willingness to take action, can win major concessions.
However, Socialist Party members in the FBU believe that this offer should be rejected, and that the union should agree a schedule of action, including coordinating with other unions.
