The centrality of the defense of jobs to the firefighters was underlined at a meeting on January 8 between FBU officials and representatives of the Local Government Association (LGA)--the firefighters’ employers. Basing their position on the proposals issued by a government commission chaired by Sir George Bain, the LGA called for cuts to 4,500 jobs and the closure of 150 fire stations.

The government cited the Bain commission’s "modernization" recommendations last November, when it vetoed a settlement reached by the FBU and the employers that combined a 16 percent wage increase with negotiations on "working practices."

The UK government mobilized some 19,000 armed forces personnel to operate their own fleet of fire trucks during the January 21 strike, as they have done for previous stoppages. The strike-breaking force included 3,000 troops from the Royal Navy and 3,000 from the Royal Air Force.

Politicians from both sides of parliament weighed in against the firefighters in the lead-up to the action. The stoppage would "achieve nothing," said Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott on the day of the strike. The only framework for a settlement was the Bain proposals, he said.

David Davis, a leader of the Conservative Party opposition, called on the government to seek an injunction to stop the strikes. The army must be at maximum strength, he said, in the context of the drive to war on Iraq and the threat of "terrorist" attacks at home. Shadow Tory defense secretary Bernard Jenkin called the firefighters "a bunch of idiots.... You are a disgrace to your country."

In spite of these attacks, the strike was solid throughout the United Kingdom. Committees at a number of fire stations organized to get out the union’s point of view by leafleting local shopping centers.  
 
Not just a pay campaign
In Elgin, firefighter Steve Barker explained, "It’s not just a pay campaign any longer. They are looking at all aspects of the fire service which could mean job cuts, job losses, and station closures."

Earlier this month the Scottish Parliament voted down an attempt by the Scottish Executive to repeal section 19 of the 1947 Fire Services Act. Such a move would have permitted fire authorities to change staff numbers and equipment without ministerial approval, potentially leading to job cuts and fire station closures.

As the union prepared for two 48-hour strikes planned for January 28 and February 1, talks between the FBU and the employers took place at the union’s request at the offices of the ACAS conciliation service on January 23 and 24. The firefighters are organizing a February 1 march and rally in Glasgow that will be addressed by union general secretary Andy Gilchrist. The march assembles at noon at Blytheswood Square, from where it will proceed to a rally in George Square.  
 
 
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