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Who is on the side of the fireman strike? I am against it, sure i want them to have more money, but they are also putting peoples life at risk. I believe that if they do get their raise, then the extra cash they get paid, will come out of our pocket (in taxes).

What are all your feelings on this? I am strongly against it, but i want to hear your views too.

It’s the government’s fault that lives are put at risk,
They easily have enough money to do it, and end this
but they choose to for example give THEMSELVES 40%! Payrises.

So as far as I’m concerned by all means, the Fire fighters who perform a valuable and essential job should get there 40% while the politicians deserve not a penny of theirs.

Thanks for your view on it, im starting to see it in a different light, i know what you mean. The goverment are greedy, but they sort out the police, firemen, bin men, etc. They do have a hard and stressfull job. Maybe they deserve some of the money they get...

40% does seem like a lot, until you consider they aren't trying to get that just as a raise over last year's pay. They are trying to get back "on track" for years and years of being underpaid.

Either way, it's terribly sad that they have to strike, and even sadder that both sides are hanging lives in the balance.

Aren't they only striking two days at the time? Admittedly, not much help if it's your apartment building burning on a strike day, but at least it's something.

The 40% is also a bargening tactic - the larger the difference between what they demand and the government is willing to offer (4% if I've remember correctly) - the greater oputunity for a 'good' compromise.

Ronn_Bman the lastest strike in eight days and I don't think it the last eight day one planned.

The Damn strikes would of ended by now but the goverment refused a deal.
16% pay rise and the agreement to talk of modinising the serivce (which will cause the loss of jobs and the changing of shifts which stand at 48 hours on, 48 hours off (Two night, two day shifts a week.) and that the sticking point. Fire Union want more moeny but no loss in jobs and to chaning of the hours they work. Goverment will give them money but only if it come from the loss of jobs and changing of hours.
Funny thing is the last strike by the FBU was in the last labour goverment.(twenty years ago) They gave and it brought them down, they just don't want a repeat of last time.

I'm against it personally. Putting innocent lives at risk is disgusting and contemptable. This isn't some sort of war or anything like that; there are other ways. Perhaps they DO deserve a raise, but striking isnt the answer imho. Not when innocents are put at risk.

Sure the Green Goddess are 'are not the finest' machines we got but the FBU are still helping people by breaking their own picket lines to pull people from fires and crashes. They even been putting fire out until the Army arrives. So far not one death has been reported as preventable if they weren't striking.