I Dont Understand

[THE HAPPY WANDERER]

The firemen are going on strike for the first time in 25yrs because the job has become so technical as to be unrecognisable to how it was 25yrs ago!!
Excuse me , werent the green goddessess used back then 25yrs out of date??
If so what does that make them now????
My partners brother is a fireman,and like all firemen/women does a good job,but i wish that i,like our firefighters,could get paid not only for turning up for work but also for going out onto site and doing my job.(Firefighters are paid extra for each and every call out)???
Does this mean that they are paid to play snooker/pool and use the gym(all of this equipment is paid for from public funds)until such times as there is a fire,whereupon they will be paid extra for putting out said fire??????


Today in Leeds a young drug addict is going on trial for the murder of a 92yr old woman.She was murdered for her pension which paid for his habit.He has escaped once,been recaught,and pleaded guilty, Excuse me,but why is thi ba$£ardstill alive??? Guilty as charged,hang him.




To all the others on this site,i apologise if this seems like one big drip sesh,but i have always believed it is a marines perogative to drip.



But i still dont understand.???????????




Aye yours The Happy Wanderer.

[El Prez]

I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but as this dementia is really bad at the moment I'm not sure; if you get my drift.
Last firemens strike I took Brig 3 Cdo Bde up to Brumingham to visit our heroes, driving the Green Goodnesses. Parked up the company gazelle next to the fire station, which was on the edge of a housing estate. As we walked towards the station and Royals reception committee, a voice from the picketing miners said "Yow don't wont ter leeeve that copter there loik". I left the Brig to make his own way into the adoring Bootnecks, walked over to the pickets, some of whom were accommpanied by offspring, and asked a bunch of the kids if they'd like a go in a helicopter. 5 minutes afterwards a warm and friendly association had been formed with the picketing firemen who suddenly realised the Booties weren't there to spoil their lives. Apparently for the rest of the strike Royal was made welcome in the local taverns.
If some of that common dog was applied to this country's woes we'd be in far better shape than at present. But what do I know.
Before Derek Blevins reminds me, yes I know it was totally out of order. BUT it worked. They can't hang you retrospectively can they? Take a bollocking Parry, why thank you kindly.

[El Prez]

At lunchtime today a fireman emailed sky news. He wrote, (approx) 'Next time you are cut out of a car on a motorway, or next time you are saved from a burning building, think about the guy who is saving you, he's earning the minimum wage'
From what I have heard the govt are offering 4%. The union side, state £21.500 as a firemans pay, they are asking for £31K, that's a minimum wage of £8 - £8.50 per hour; not unreasonable when a painter/decorator will charge £8 - 9 /hour; a mechanic £18 - 22 / hour. The government argument that if it's given to one public sector group then the other public sectors will clamour for more is specious. They all deserve better salaries. How much has the Cult spent on shuttle diplomacy? Preparation for war and continued sanctions in Iraq? MP's payrises? Re-fit of the Lord Chancellors grace and favour accommodation? Downing St food troughs and wine lakes? The list is endless; We depend on the people who rescue us, ambulance us, nurse and heal us; they should not have to work under stygian conditions or pay rates. Otherwise as Nurse says, "If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys".
It's all going pear shaped again on the home front innit, perhaps El Cult should concentrate on his front porch rather than his sworn enemies ranch.

[Rotary Booty]

What I don't understand is:

Why do the forces have to use out of date Green Godessess when there will be big shiney, up to date fire-engines, parked up doing nothing? Don't tell me the firemen own them!

Why does a fireman, (I want £30,000 ) think he is worth more than a policeman, (who gets £23,000) when the policeman spends ALL of his shift time doing his job? Including motorway pile-ups, fires etc etc etc

Why won't the firemen wait 'til November for the result of the current job spec and pay review?

Why does Rob think I have never carried unauthorised passengers in a helicopter? Oooops.

[El Prez]

Derek, Cos you were teacher and held the cane!

The police are worth a lot more than £23. When you see what they do on most night shifts, and the way they now wear body armour in order to protect themselves from their customers, I'm amazed anybody does the job.

I think the firemen have the right idea. The junior minister in charge of the issue is remarkably like a 3rd form swat, without a clue about their task. He has already stated today that the review and the resultant 4% payrise is all that is on offer, and if the firemen get more, then everybody else will want more. It is spun in a way that makes the firecrews the evil ogres of the piece. On the subject of engines and their useage, a) the firemen would refuse access for training and b) they are far too technical for inexperienced crews to utilise. Driving with blues and twos is one thing, accessing and setting up kit another.

This new drum is good, almost as much ding as the last one.

[Sea Soldier]

At the end of the day,Firemen,Ambulance Crews,Nurses,Tube Drivers,Bus Drivers etc all have one thing in common ... the right,at law,to withdraw their labour ... & unless they get what they want,have demonstrated their readiness (admittedly,some more than others) to do just that & then to play the "Guilt Trip" card on the public & all have powerful Unions,with Union Bosses just dying to make a name for themselves,in the process.

To that same end,why has Ken Livingstone agreed to exempt Nurses,Ambulance Workers & Firefighters from London congestion charges ?

And,more importantly ... whom has he NOT exempted & who CANNOT,at law withdraw their labour,on pain of imprisonment & who,other than HM Forces,is left to "backfill" in times of Emergency Services strikes ? ... why, the very same people who are not permitted to have a Union ... the poor old Police !

And as everyone knows ... who cares about Coppers ?... "They're all racist bastards,anyway" ! ... except when there's no one else left to save you !

[El Prez]

I must admit I thought the Police Federation was a union until I found the following info at their website. I've copied it in case anybody else was under the same illusion.

The Police Federation of England and Wales is the representative body to which every police officer below the rank of Superintendent belongs.
It was established by the Police Act 1919 to provide the police with a means of bringing their views on welfare and efficiency to the notice of the government and the police authorities.
The current membership of the Federation is 128,000.
All the elected officials of the Police Federation must be serving police officers. Police are not permitted to belong to trade unions and must not take part in politics. (The Federation does, however, liaise with public sector trade unions and has excellent relationships with the TUC and all political parties).
Under the provisions of the Police Act, the police are forbidden to strike, and must at all times obey the lawful orders of senior officers.
There are separate Police Federations for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The Federation does not represent "non-Home Office" police forces, i.e. British Transport, Ministry of Defence, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, etc. These forces have their own organisations.
Police pay, allowances, pensions and conditions of service are negotiated nationally in the Police Negotiating Board, which covers the United Kingdom police service. Clint Elliott, the General Secretary of the PFEW, is also the secretary of the staff side of the PNB and is responsible for our negotiations.

[Sea Soldier]

And therein Rob,lies the crux of the matter ... "negotiation",which basically means the Government,Police Authorities,Chief Officers etc don't have to "listen" or "agree" or "implement" any "negotiation",if they choose not to ... & if they don't,there's nothing anyone can do about it !

What "Red Ken" (never a Police ally at the best of times) will lose by exempting Fire & Health Service workers from charges,he will recoup by penalising Police employees,whose total strength,is larger than the other two Emergency Services,in London put together.

So the Police Federation (a "toothless tiger") can "negotiate" from now until I believe a single word any Politician says & it will make not one iota of difference !

Another factor worth bearing in mind is that Firefighters have always been permitted to have a "second" job (for payment) ... something which is & always has been denied to Police Officers ! .... furthermore the regulations which a Police Officer is "obliged" to live under,are truly draconian,just one example is that an Officer has to submit the location of where He/She wants to live,for "approval" ... Police Officers may not for example reside in a flat above any "Licenced" premises (Off Licence,Pub,Bookies etc) even if their access has no physical contact with said premises !

[Shoulderholster]

I see that the goverment "spin" is already being believed,and we firefighters (to use the PC term) are being painted as the bad guys.
A few facts,after 16 years in the Fire Service I now earn the maximun rate for my rank (Ff),after a 48 hour week I bring home £282.
This cannot be improved upon by overtime (unless I work on a bank holiday),there is no shift allowance or extra for "unsociable" hours.
It takes four years to become a qualified firefighter,you get a pay rise after that period,and another after five years service. Next pay rise is a long service rise after 15 years.
There are lads on my station who qualify for income support,tell them they are being greedy.
Happy Wonderer,I think you need to get your facts straight before having a "rant" on this forum,the only firefighters who get paid to attend fires are retained,ie part time.The gym gear,snooker tables etc that you seem so envious of are not paid for out of the public purse.They are paid for out of the individual stations Sports and Social Club fund ie money raised by holding functions and open days etc.
Derek Blevins
As for a comprehensive review,that takes six weeks! to complete,I don't think so.It will just be a rehash, of the several reviews that have taken place over the last four years which have produced nothing new.Local Fire Authorities wanted to pay us 16% this year but this was squashed by central goverment,you wont see that in the papers.
The army can't use our appliances for insurance reasons and health and safety implications. I agree with you the police aren't paid anything like they deserve,but their position has been undermined by succesive "touchy feely" politicians so its no wonder its a job few want to undertake these days.
I can hear you all saying "well why do you do the job?",because I enjoy it,the job satisfaction is like no other,this is what Blair/Prescott rely on.But this will only go so far.
Yours fraternally
SH

[Jim C]

Hear Hear Shoulderholster

A mate of mine is a firefighter and some of the stuff he has to put up with is beyond believe in this day and age. His engine has to have police protection when attending certain areas within his patch, they (the fireman) are constantly being bricked/stoned and verbally abused.
Most if not all his watch have part-time jobs in order to earn a decent wage.

It wasn't long ago that a few marines with children were on income support, untill a series of pay rises took them just outside the bracket.

It is a damned disgrace that these guys put their lives at risk to serve/save the public to earn as little as they do. Once again the Government is taking advantage of the loyalty of these guys - none who really want to strike anyway.
:Fade-color

[Nobby.C]

I believe that we are going to experience the Green Godesses on the streets again, I also believe that some factors have been overlooked in this potentialy catastrophic situation.
When the Godesses were last used the vehicles and equipment were already 25 years out of date in the following 25 years the the roll of the fire fighter have changed as has the expectancy of that famous military man General Public. I should imagine there are at least 1/3 more fire and rescue vehicles on the road now than when the Green Godesses last sparked into life. A few days ago my local paper showed the six Green Godesses allocated to Lincolnshire neatly lined up ready for use, the article made note that these would stand in for the 48 fire engines in use.
I have also been told that three sets of cutting equipment will be available for use in rescue work but THIS IS FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY.
I hope to God that this government begin to take this situation seriously as at present their handling and contingency planning has been a joke.

[diomed]

One easy way to slove it is to close your borders, or if they make it over ship them right back from whence they came.
All the money saved on not supporting the illegal immigrants would them be available to go to those who deserve it IE coppers, ff etc

[SYB]

Hi all,
On the subject, "I dont understand...... Russian, never can understand it?

Here we are again? What the hell is happening?
A good point was made on the Police federation Kev.
We forget that the fire service doent just put out fires? i bet they save more lives cutting people out of cars? Having witnessed this sort of stuff they do a bloody good job, and like all public sector workers get paid crap money for the ever increasing amount of sh*t they deal with.

Hey but why do our politicians care? Lets look at thier professions? tony Blair QC? My local MP Lawyer?
They are used to wasting money, just take a look at the criminal justice sysytem????Thats where all the spare cash goes legal aid, Adjournements etc etc bloody ETC

[John_D]

If Downing Street was hit with either a car bomb or a rocket,would our
illustrious leader prefer a green goddess showing up at his door or a
big ,red Fire engine with all the mod gear, Extending ladders and turntables,and a crew who exactly what to do,

Question
on Sept 11th who went out to assist?

Answer
the fire service,

question 2
When there are earth quakes and builings collapse
again Who goes to assist.?

Answer
The fire service.

the way I see it all our emergency services need an increase in their
pay packet.as well as the Fire service the Ambulance service also
receive abuse and get stoned when called to a shout,and when this happens they call in the police who are grossly undermanned and under paid for the risks they take.

Aye

John_D