Back from the Brink
London's firefighters have - at the eleventh hour - called off tonight's bonfire night strike.
Better late than never, but the strike was always an ill-judged move - ans was bound to put innocent lives at risk.
So let's hope the London branch of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has come to its senses - and will find another way of resolving the dispute.
Because this is not about some jack-booted employer trying to exploit the workers - the dispute is about shift patterns - no firefighter will lose any hours or any money.
The employers want to reduce the current 15 hour shift - and be able to deploy more firefighters during the day - when they do most of their fire safety and fire prevention work.
In this case the FBU has painted itself into a corner - because trying to defend a 15 hour night is a ridiculous position - and not one that general public will understand or support.
And as public support is the strongest card that firefighters have - they'd be wise not to overplay their hand.
Better late than never, but the strike was always an ill-judged move - ans was bound to put innocent lives at risk.
So let's hope the London branch of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has come to its senses - and will find another way of resolving the dispute.
Because this is not about some jack-booted employer trying to exploit the workers - the dispute is about shift patterns - no firefighter will lose any hours or any money.
The employers want to reduce the current 15 hour shift - and be able to deploy more firefighters during the day - when they do most of their fire safety and fire prevention work.
In this case the FBU has painted itself into a corner - because trying to defend a 15 hour night is a ridiculous position - and not one that general public will understand or support.
And as public support is the strongest card that firefighters have - they'd be wise not to overplay their hand.
