Bucks FRS called a halt to the non-acceptance of partial performance yesterday (but crucially did not rescind it for future periods of Industrial Action), after a shambolic mostly failed attempt to get Red in during the day, due to a lack of a coherent return to work procedure/strategy, the FBU stepped in to ensure Greens professionals were at work for all but one hour of official IA during last nights shift. Why did it take seven days for Bucks to rescind PP? The money required to cover the contingency workforce was recouped in 2/3 days. So it wasnt about money - the reason given to the Fire Authority by the CFO. The FBU tried on many occasions to end the lock out and the SMB refused time and time again. To rescind the PP the SMB wanted, in their words a SPECTACULAR offer from FBU officials and members in Bucks, SMBs only offer was that Bucks crews must answer emergency calls during the official industrial action timings, of course the members said NO WAY. Fire cover was dangerously scant/scarce during the whole period but the ever decreasing number of contingency firefighters worked as hard as they can to try and break the resolve and bank accounts of striking firefighters. At the weekend Bucks FRS cracked due to lack of fire cover, the ACFOs big gamble (with public safety) didnt pay off. Day Crew firefighters and Flexible Duty Officers have just come/coming to the end of an 8 day, 192 hour effective lock out, for these firefighters/FDOs the relaxation of the partial performance came far too late, official strike action for these Bucks firefighters ended at 08.00/09.00 this morning. Retained Duty System firefighters official strike action ends at 09.00 this morning, an all out 8 day 192 hour strike. On strike for the whole period. WT shift were effectively locked out for all but 14 hours of a single 15 hour night shift, a total 192 hour stint, for just 24 hours of discontinuous strike action. Its worth reiterating that at this time PP has not been rescinded for future strikes, had it been so then the RDS/FDO/DC strike couldve been called off yesterday and Bucks FRS wouldve had its full complement of professionals available from 18.00 last night. WE NEED YOUR HELP, to sustain continued periods of effective lock out we need hardship fund donations, we need messages of support, we need picket line visits and we need firefighters to lobby their FBU officials to ensure that any future ASOS bans movement over the borders into any Brigade where PP is not being accepted, at the moment just Bucks - however, had Bucks members caved/cave in in future due to finacial hardship or Bucks FRS coped using over the border contingency, then rest assured most Brigades in the country would be facing non acceptance of PP this morning. Massive thanks to Bucks FBU firefighters (and families/loved ones for putting up with us over the 8 days) and firefighters from neighbouring Brigades (who either refused to cross into Bucks or implemented additional Brigade specific ASOS in a very short time frame) who have shown that solidarity is strength and a united set of workers cannot be bullied back to work or starved into submission. YIU Bucks FBU
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 07:42:36 +0000
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