TONY BLAIR FOOT IN MOUTH STRIKES AGAIN

Tuesday November 26, 2002 23:48

by andre

FOOT IN MOUTH STRIKES TONY BLUR/alan b'stard. In a front page article the mirror, revealed Tony blur's stupid blunders. 'The Premier said every penny of any pay rise above four per cent would have to be funded by modernisation" of working practices as outlined in the Bain Review'. 'But a document leaked to the Mirror revealed that far from saving money the Review would cost an extra £41million'. FBU leader Andy Gilchrist said: "When you look at what Mr Blair said you realise it's all soundbites with no substance. He's added to the chaos and confusion in the Government's handling of the dispute."

'Mr Gilchrist then rubbished five "embarrassing gaffes" in Mr Blair's speech: Firefighters must end their 25-year overtime ban to help boost efficiency. FACT: Introducing overtime would cost £18million more'.

'New shift patterns including part-time working are needed. FACT: They would cost an extra £4million'.

'Full-time and retained firefighters must work together. FACT: They already do so'.

'Firefighters to train as paramedics. FACT: Huge sums would be needed for training and equipment'.

'Joint control rooms are needed to improve response times. FACT: They would cost a fortune to set up'.
John Weaver, a Manchester station commander, said he was convinced the Government was trying to turn its efforts to destroying support for the strikers.

He said: "It's like setting a pack of wolves on a gerbil. We're not looking for that type of fight. For some reason, Blair is on a mission. We seem to be his miners."

But Mr Blair repeatedly insisted the Government was not engineering a stand-off.
Mr Blair claimed a 16 per cent settlement vetoed by the Government last week would have cost £500million.

But a Treasury spokesman admitted the £500million figure was "cumulative", saying: "We have three-year spending plans."

Mr Gilchrist said yesterday: "Even the employers say it would cost less than £100million to fund their latest offer." The firefighters want a 40 per cent rise taking their pay to £30,000 a year. Mr Blair awarded himself an identical percentage pay rise after the last election taking his salary to £163,418.

GMB general secretary John Edmonds insisted last night: "Public sector workers are not motivated by greed.

"Our members do not look at other public sector workers and say 'I want what they've got'. They look at their families and say 'I want what they need'."

Earlier, Labour MPs were split on taking on the firefighters.

Labour MP Llew Smith challenged Mr Blair: "How can we afford to fund a war against Iraq but can't find the necessary money to meet the just demands of the firefighters?"

'Mr Gilchrist said: "None of the changes he mentioned would make the savings the Government is talking about'.

"The only way to make savings in the fire service is to cut the amount of firefighters, the number of fire engines and the amount of fire stations. All would mean a worse service."

'Eighteen proposals in the Bain Review are expected to add to the cost of running the fire service'.

Not all have been assessed. But the 11 that have been checked are expected to add £60million to costs. Another three areas would save £19million.

Among the increased costs revealed in the leaked document are: £3million to pay "golden hellos" to help tackle specific staff shortages such as drivers in London.

Another £5million on training to make senior firefighters better managers. A further £5million on a new post of human resources manager for every 500 firefighters.

FBU assistant general secretary Mike Fordham said the document shot down the idea that a pay rise could be only be paid for by modernisation of the service.

He said: "That argument is blown clean out of the water.

"These are their figures not ours. They are the work of the employers and officials from John Prescott's department."

He added that Mr Blair floundered when asked to explain the difference between a pay rise "linked" to modernisation and one "funded" by it.

FBU national officer Geoff Ellis said: "The Premier is scaremongering. It's pulling the wool over people's eyes.

"There are lies, damned lies and government statistics."
ALL WHICH PROVES THAT TONY and new labour/old tories fire brigade employers havent got a clue what they're doing and ARE WASTING TIME AND SQUANDERING TAXPAYERS MONEY ON unnecessary modernisation of the fire service, and provoking the fire brigade employees to strike, causing untold hardship to both the fire fighters and the general public. Tony and the wanton greed and stupidity of the fire brigade EMPLOYERS are directly responsible for the recent fire deaths in the UK.