2002–2003 United Kingdom firefighter dispute

Nationwide strike action by UK firefighters for improved salaries January 2022 January 2022 Green Goddess PGW248 about to emerge from Wellington Barracks.jpg Green Goddess emerging from Wellington Barracks in November 2002 United Kingdom 2002-2003 United Kingdom firefighter dispute *Fire Brigades Union * HM Government British Armed Forces 13 November 2002 – 12 June 2003(11 13 2002 06 12 2003) *Disagreements over labour contract between union and local authorities *16% pay rise for three years agreed Andy Gilchrist voted out as FBU General Secretary, replaced by Matt Wrack Legislation passed allowing military to commandeer fire appliances from striking firefighters Andy Gilchrist Tony BlairJohn Prescott The 2002–2003 UK firefighter dispute was a period of nationwide strike action which began when the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) voted to strike in an attempt to secure better salaries. The FBU demanded a 39 percent increase in pay, which would have brought the average firefighter's wage to around £30,000 (UK 30,000 2002 eq £). It balloted its members for a strike in late 2002 and the industrial action began in November. It was the first nationwide firefighters' strike in the UK since 1977.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2238303.stm BBC News Fire strike 'would threaten Iraq action' 5 September 2002 11 October 2007 The strike was led by FBU General Secretary Andy Gilchrist.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2347869.stm The man leading firefighters on strike BBC News 17 February 2003 Background Local authorities recommended a pay increase of 4%, whilst an independent review advised 11%. The FBU rejected both of these requesting 40%. The government argued that this could result in substantially higher wages across the public sector and tax increases.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2341283.stm Q&A: Firefighters' strike BBC News 12 November 2002 The Independent Review of the Fire Service (known as the "Bain Review") proposed increasing salaries, on condition that the fire service was reformed and modernised. Recommendations included improving fire service leadership, encouraging closer relations with the central and local governments, and giving firefighters paramedic training.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2447225.stm Interim Bain review at a glance BBC News 12 November 2002Rose Ed 2008 Employment Relations https://books.google.com/books?id=Wy22Mi7H4MoC London Pearson Education 437–439 978-0-2737-1008-0http://www.frsonline.fire.gov.uk/publications/article/17/306 Independent Review of the Fire Service FRSOnline December 2002 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070927045019/http://www.frsonline.fire.gov.uk/publications/article/17/306 27 September 2007 The last nationwide firefighters' strike occurred between 1977 and early 1978, months prior to the Winter of Discontent. This was also a dispute about firefighters' pay, with the FBU demanding a 30% pay increase over a recommended 10% increase, and resulted in the armed forces being deployed to cover the striking firefighters. The strike ended after two months when FBU eventually accepted the 10% pay increase, having lost the backing of the Trades Union Congress and the support of the public.Wilson Jamie 23 October 2002 Dad's Army mood turned sour in '77 https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2002/oct/23/uk.firefighters The Guardian 13 January 2022 Strike action thumb|Armed forces firefighters with a Green Goddess in Ince-in-Makerfield, Greater Manchester in December 2002 The first few weeks of the planned action were postponed while negotiation took place. The first period, a two-day strike, began at 18:00 hrs GMT, on Wednesday 13 November and ended at 18:00 on Friday 15 November. In the event that reconciliation could not be brokered, further industrial action was planned.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2446643.stm Fire strike on as pay talks fail BBC News 12 November 2002 29 May 2007 The armed forces provided emergency cover during the strike by activating Operation Fresco, using Bedford RLHZ 'Green Goddess' fire engines, originally produced for the Auxiliary Fire Service for use following a nuclear attack on the United Kingdom, as well as a handful of modern appliances held in reserve.Bowcott Owen Wainwright Martin 23 October 2002 Army gets use of red goddess engines https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/nov/23/military.firefighters The Guardian 13 January 2022 The armed forces also fielded small breathing apparatus rescue teams (BART) and rescue equipment support teams (REST) headed by professional firefighters of the RAF and staffed by specially trained members of all three services.http://www.operations.mod.uk/fresco/index.htm Operation Fresco Ministry of Defence dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021024120642/http://www.operations.mod.uk/fresco/index.htm 24 October 2002 12 November 2002 Police officers escorted responding armed forces personnel to emergency callouts;Dodd Vikram November 14, 2002 Ready to roll. But can the military cope? https://www.newspapers.com/image/260755137/ 2024-09-13 The Guardian Firefighters' dispute : Operation Fresco: Armed forces chiefs warn of slower response times and fewer crews offering only basic cover across the UK 4 London, England Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott was criticised for hypocrisy by members of the FBU for offering increased overtime payments to police officers and armed forces personnel undertaking these duties. 22 October 2002 Police in line for fire strike bonanza https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/7919302.police-in-line-for-fire-strike-bonanza/ The Press York 13 January 2022 Each side placed the responsibility entirely with the other; the FBU said that their employers' failure to meet their demands was the cause of the strike. Prime Minister Tony Blair criticised the strike as "wrong and dangerous" and warned the FBU that lives could be lost the lack of a prompt response by emergency services. 21 October 2002 Blair warns strikers of threat to public https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2002/oct/21/tradeunions.uk The Guardian 13 January 2022 19,000 armed forces personnel were deployed to cover for striking firefighters, with fears being raised that the deployment would impact British forces' intervention in the upcoming invasion of Iraq. 26 September 2002 Green goddess troops back on army duties https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/sep/26/military.iraq The Guardian 13 January 2022 There were numerous examples of striking firefighters responding to emergency calls from the picket line and several rescues were made in this way.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/2505929.stm Firefighters leave picket lines for crash BBC News 23 November 2002 4 May 2019 en-GB Negotiations The first few weeks of the planned action were postponed while negotiation took place. The FBU rejected an offer that would amount to 11 percent over two years from a review body headed by Sir George Bain, and were unwilling to accept reforms to their working conditions.Blyton Paul Turnbull Peter 6 April 2004 The Dynamics of Employee Relations https://books.google.com/books?id=J9QcBQAAQBAJ London Macmillan International Higher Education 320–325 978-0-2306-2819-9Maguire Kevin 12 November 2002 Union anger at 11% fire pay offer https://www.theguardian.com/society/2002/nov/12/localgovfinance.firefighters1 The Guardian 13 January 2022 The FBU was widely criticisedJanuary 2022 for its initial demand for a 40 percent pay-rise for both firefighters and support workers; indeed, it refused to abandon this demand despite mounting public disquiet concerning the FBU's stance.May 2007 On 19 March 2003, leaders of the FBU and negotiators for the local authority employers reached a provisional agreement based on a three-year pay settlement and an understanding that modernisation measures would be subject to some measure of local negotiation. However this was voted down by local area FBU representatives the following day.Clement Barrie 20 March 2003 Gilchrist humiliated as fire union rejects latest offer on pay https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/gilchrist-humiliated-as-fire-union-rejects-latest-offer-on-pay-111506.html The Independent 13 January 2022 On 20 March 2003, Paul Woolstenholmes, an FBU official in Suffolk set up a political party, Firefighters Against Cuts.Firefighters Against Cuts http://openelectoralcommission.org.uk/parties/PP298/firefighters-against-cuts/ openelectoralcommission.org.uk democracyclub 21 March 2020 21 March 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200321230830/http://openelectoralcommission.org.uk/parties/PP298/firefighters-against-cuts/ dead However this did not develop, with only a handful of candidates contesting seats in Suffolk Coastal,Teale Andrew Local Election Results 2003 Suffolk Coastal https://www.andrewteale.me.uk/leap/results/2003/336/ Local Elections Archive Project Andrew Teale 21 March 2020 East RenfrewshireTeale Andrew Local Election Results 2003 Busby East Renfrewshire https://www.andrewteale.me.uk/leap/ward/16170/ Local Elections Archive Project Andrew Teale 21 March 2020 and South Ayrshire.Council Election Results 2003 https://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/council-election/results2003.aspx South Ayrshire Council 21 March 2020 en 21 March 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200321230216/https://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/council-election/results2003.aspx dead On 12 June 2003 at an FBU conference in Glasgow, the dispute ended with the firefighters accepting a pay deal worth 16% over three years linked to changes to working conditions. The deal was branded a disappointment by delegates, with some voting for the pay deal to avoid one being imposed on them by the government.Brenton Fred 12 June 2003 Anger smoulders despite deal https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/2984984.stm BBC News 13 January 2022 12 June 2003 Fire deal may cost Gilchrist his job https://www.scotsman.com/news/uk-news/fire-deal-may-cost-gilchrist-his-job-2506891 The Scotsman 13 January 2022 Legacy Tensions were raised again in 2004, when the FBU and local authority employers clashed over whether the deal brokered in 2003 was being honoured. 17 June 2004 Employers condemn fire strike ballot https://www.politics.co.uk/news/2004/06/17/employers-condemn-fire-strike-ballot/ Politics.co.uk 13 January 2022 Unofficial strikes took place in some fire brigadesOliver Mark 19 May 2004 Wildcat fire strikes spread https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/may/19/politics.society The Guardian 13 January 2022 and military personnel were again readied to cover striking firefighters,Keeling Neal 4 August 2004 Region on fire strike alert https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/region-on-fire-strike-alert-1181417 Manchester Evening News 13 January 2022Evans Michael Sherman Jill 5 August 2004 11,000 troops called up to cover nationwide fire strike https://www.thetimes.com/article/11000-troops-called-up-to-cover-nationwide-fire-strike-hkl9mrhlbjn The Times London 13 January 2022 however this round of negotiations was settled without recourse to industrial action in August of that year.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3240811.stm Q&A: Fire dispute BBC News 26 August 2004 29 May 2007Mulholland Hélène 26 August 2004 Deal spells end to fire strike https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/may/07/uk.firefighters The Guardian 13 January 2022 Disaffection with the FBU leadership after these disputes led to Andy Gilchrist being voted out of office by union members in 2005, being replaced by Matt Wrack.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4522667.stm Gilchrist out as fire union boss BBC News 6 May 2005 13 January 2022Scott Kirsty 7 May 2005 Gilchrist ousted as fire union leader https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/may/07/uk.firefighters The Guardian 13 January 2022Johnston Chris 6 May 2005 Fire strike leader loses union job https://www.thetimes.com/article/fire-strike-leader-loses-union-job-v5h929xjhmk The Times London 13 January 2022 Further strike action and work stoppages on a smaller scale would be carried out by regional members of the FBU in individual fire brigades. 5,500 firefighters from the London Fire Brigade walked out on strike over two nights in 2010 in a dispute over new contracts.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11662248 London firefighters' strike to go ahead BBC News 1 November 2010 13 January 2022Siddique Haroon Bowcott Owen 1 November 2010 Firefighters' strike starts in London https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/nov/01/firefighters-strike-london The Guardian 13 January 2022 A third 47-hour walkout on Bonfire Night was later called off by the FBU,Kleebauer Alistar 5 November 2010 Bonfire Night fire strike called off by union https://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/bonfire-night-fire-strike-called-off-by-union-3414738 East London Advertiser 13 January 2022 while private contractors operating the 27 fire engines made available during the strike complained of intimidation by picketing firefighters.Arnold Adam 27 October 2010 Fire Crews 'Intimidated' As Thousands Strike https://news.sky.com/story/fire-crews-intimidated-as-thousands-strike-10491288 Sky News 13 January 2022 Two striking firefighters were injured in separate hit-and-run incidents outside of their fire stations, with one firefighter hit by a fire engine, resulting in two arrests.Topping Alexandra 1 November 2010 Two striking firefighters hurt in crashes on London picket lines https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/nov/01/firefighter-strike-car-arrest The Guardian 13 January 2022 The antiquated Bedford RLHZ 'Green Goddess' fire engines employed by the armed forces were criticised for their lack of speed, water capacity and modern equipment throughout the strike. Subsequent legislation introduced after the strike would demand striking fire brigades make their fire engines available to the armed forces, rendering the 'Green Goddess' appliances redundant; the fleet of over 1,000 appliances began to be sold off in 2005, with many 'Green Goddess' appliances being sold to developing countries.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/4266381.stm Green Goddesses reach end of road BBC News 15 February 2005 13 January 2022https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4285557.stm Green Goddess fire engines sold BBC News 21 February 2005 13 January 2022Bell Dan https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7033602.stm All hands to the pump BBC News 8 October 2007 13 January 2022 See also Organized labour Fire services in the United Kingdom Independent Review of the Fire Service References External links Fire Brigades Union The Firefighters dispute In-depth BBC News feature Category:2002 labor disputes and strikes Category:2003 labor disputes and strikes Category:2002 in the United Kingdom Category:2003 in the United Kingdom Category:Labour disputes in the United Kingdom Category:Fire and rescue in the United Kingdom