Fire crew joins pay protest rally

Firefighters across the country are demanding a massive pay increase. They say it is necessary because their 25 year-old pay formula now bears no relation to reality.

Bexhill station representative, Firefighter Mark Mitchell said on Wednesday: "There were thousands there. It was a massive turn-out."

He was accompanied by colleagues Adey Carrick, Andy Chambers and Charlie Richards.

Adey Carrick said: "There were people there from Northern Ireland, from Cornwall, Wales, Lothian all over."

Mark Mitchell said: "What the union is asking for is fair pay for firefighters.

"We have a pay formula which was fought for in 1977. This was based on parity with the upper quartile of the national average wage for manual workers.

"But that was 25 years ago and things have changed.

"Proportionately, there are no longer as many manual workers in the country, so the formula has not worked for us for years. We have fallen behind."

Members says the extent to which they have fallen behind especially in an area of rocketing house prices such as the South East is demonstrated by the claim. A qualified firefighter with five years' experience is currently on a basic pay scale of 21,500 a year.

Tuesday's FBU march was aimed at demonstrating to the negotiating body, the National Joint Council that it means business in seeking 30,000 a year.

The 1977 formula was reached only after national strike action brought ancient Army fire appliances the so-called Green Goddesses out onto the street.

Asked if Bexhill members would join in strike action if negotiations failed, Firefighter Mitchell said: "Obviously, that is one thing that we want to avoid at all costs.

"1977 was the only national fire strike that there has ever been. We will go out of our way to achieve a just settlement without strike action."