FBU Conference 2005: No2 Fire Deaths, No to attacks on our working conditions

The recent FBU (Fire Brigades Union) conference was held under the slogan “No 2 Fire Deaths”. This annual conference of the Fire Brigades Union was the first with Matt Wrack as the new General Secretary. During the four days of the conference there were lively discussions and debates on key issues such as health and safety, pensions and international policy amongst others.

Delegates and the General Secretary showed their willingness to oppose cuts in pensions, and a worsening of working conditions in general, with militant action. In fact the election of Matt Wrack to the position of General Secretary reflects a radicalisation of the FBU membership. The new leader of the firefighters echoed the anger and the firm resolution of the FBU rank and file to take up militant action.

On Wednesday John McDonnell MP addressed the conference. The head of the FBU parliamentary group gave a report of the actions taken by this body to defend the interests of firefighters. He recalled the solidarity showed by these few MPs, like himself, who attended picket lines, spoke at rallies and provided a parliamentary platform to the firefighters two years ago when they were engaged in their dispute against government plans. John McDonnell pointed out “if we have to go back to the picket lines to defend pensions, jobs or protest over control room closures with you, we will do so in solidarity.”

During his speech he showed great contempt for what he branded as the Thatcherite policies of the New Labour government. The leader of the Socialist Campaign Group of MPs vowed to fight against the privatisation programme proposed by the Blairite clique installed at Number 10 Downing Street. He branded Blair’s policy on pensions as “insensitive lunacy” and promised that neither he nor his colleagues in the Socialist Campaign Group of MPs will ever vote for anti-working class policies. He appealed to “affiliated and non-affiliated unions to the Labour party” to come together and put forward socialist policies on behalf of working people and to defeat Blair.

The international policy discussion was dominated by Palestine. A report of an FBU delegation to Palestine was given. The report opened the debate on this issue. Different resolutions put forward by Derbyshire and Tyne & Wear were discussed and unanimously passed. Palestine was bound to be the main international issue on the FBU agenda. In the evening delegates, visitors and the press attended the “International night” where the Palestinian delegation explained the harsh living conditions of the Palestinian people. They explained how the imperialist and Zionist Sharon administration targeted ambulances and firefighter trucks to stop them from performing their tasks. Comedian Jeremy Hardy, in his especially funny way of explaining British and international politics, followed on from the Palestinian delegation.

The Palestinian trade unionists were not the only international guest speakers. On Thursday, the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions spokesperson, Abdulla Musin, praised the FBU for their opposition to the imperialist war and the occupation of Iraq.

Pensions and Health & Safety issues were key issues on the agenda. On Thursday, delegates passed different resolutions rejecting different measures proposed by the government such as introducing crews of four. A delegate from Merseyside said “We will put our lives at risk to save other lives but not to save money for the government”.

FBU General Secretary, Matt Wrack advocated for strike action if the Blair government puts forward their anti-working class plans on pensions. The FBU leader warned members that even if the government has retreated for now they should be ready to work with other unions and prepare industrial action.

“The government has retreated for now, but has made no real concessions. I think deep down we all know that they will be back again,” the firefighters’ leader said.

Matt Wrack also added that, “As the fourth richest country in the world, it is nonsense that Britain cannot afford decent pay for its workers but it can afford to spend billions on invading other people’s countries on the basis of a lie”.

But attacks on the firefighters are not just in the sphere of pensions. The Blair government plans to establish “regional control centres”. This plan involves replacing 46 fire control rooms with just nine in England and a loss of 900 jobs. Different experts have pointed out that such regional control centres are not adequate for the police and ambulance services.

Once again the pro-bosses government of Tony Blair is showing contempt for the lives of millions of people in Britain. This measure also follows the logic of the private sector “profit goes before people”. TUC leader Brendan Barber correctly branded such plans as “an expensive disaster” in his address to the FBU conference. However, the hopes he placed in the Tony Blair government to have a more “positive engagement towards trade unions” show how removed he really is from the militant mood that was expressed at the FBU conference.

The TUC leaders are deluding themselves if they think they are going any better treatment from Blair and co. in this third term. Blairism represents the “enemy within” as far as working people and rank and file Labour Party and trade union members are concerned. The task now is to remove Blair, not to expect any concessions from them.

The only way to stop attacks on pensions, privatisation and job cuts is through industrial action. The FBU has already shown its commitment to fight back against this social onslaught; nonetheless they cannot do it on their own. It is necessary for all the TUC to give its full backing in this struggle.