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Firefighters
have walked out for their latest 48 hour strike. Talks are still
deadlocked and the local authority employers say they won't return
to negotiations, unless the threat of more stoppages is lifted.
We're here because no one wants to talk to us and the only way
we get listened to in any way is to take some kind of action
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Patrick
McArdle, Sub Officer, Borehamwood Fire Station
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We've
been following the strike at Borehamwood fire station and spoke
to Patrick McArdle, a Sub Officer in charge of Blue Watch, about
why he thinks they're still on strike this morning:
"It's
obviously clear that the government has another agenda, it's not
just about our pay. There's been quite a clever job of linking it
to modernisation and accusing us of having not modernised"
he explains.
"We're
back on strike because they're not prepared to negotiate. Our local
employers have totally had their hands tied." he says.
He
went on to explain that he didn't feel that the employers were totally
innocent parties either, but the firefighters only option was to
take industrial action.
"We're
here because no one wants to talk to us and the only way we get
listened to in any way is to take some kind of action - and then
people seem to pay attention to us."
The
dispute has now been going on for many months, so as they enter
their fourth period of industrial action how are the firefighters
feeling?
"In
general people are quite down hearted" says Patrick, "but
at this station attitudes are hardening. People are vey unhappy
and have quite a lot of unfocussed anger. They are prepared to go
more hard line."
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| The
brazier spells out a message |
He
went onto explain that during last week's strike the firefighters
at Borehamwood actaully abandoned the station. "It was left
empty without any pickets or any possibility of the pump turning
out" he says.
And
what about the attitude of the general public?
"We
feel that the people who have supported us all along are still there
for us" he says. "But the government have done a very
good job of saying that we don't do the jobs that we're paid to
do and not modernising and there's a group of people who are totally
against us."
"But
we believe that these people do still represent the minority. I
think a lot of people can form their own opinions and can see the
spin."
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your say >>
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