reports.
THE decision of the Labour-controlled West Glamorgan county council to dismiss the firefighters and bring in the army to allow it to carry through its cost-cutting attacks was sakened Murdoch's sacking of the News Inter leatoral Renter Cameron. leader, Cameron. Though in the case of the West Glamorgan firefighters, they hadn't even taken strike action before the council moved. They had just threatened a one-hour stoppage.
The council's letter says that the firefighters says they not 'locked out'. it even warns them that will claim damages from the dismissed workers to pay for the extra cost of using the army!
Cuts The firefighters had voted by four-to-one to take a series of one-hour stoppages in protest at decision reorganise the service involving a cut of 48 fulltime jobs, the reduction of the vehicle fleet by pump, and the conversion full-time pump crew into part-time.
Fi ne reorganisation the outcome of all month review carried out on the basis of a government Cucula Issued 1985. It has major implicaother county councils. Immediately the reorganisation decision was taken on 26 August. the firefighters • began a work-to-rule Following the ballot for strike action, the council decided on a lock-out. I ney are lusicau using 120 army personne and 20 'green goddess' fire for their calca breaking operation.
Frank Evans, chair of the council's public tection made the Labour group's posiabsolutely clear their determination through the CallY reorganisation which will 'save' the council £270,000 per year. go out for one hour, they go out for good' he said.
tact. OI course, there will be no savings at the reorganisation plans. itselt nas admitted that 30,000 people one-third of everyone covered will get a worse service as result . OI tnel HOOSCO In strict monetary CuLD.
terms, the reduction in service will create greater expense not less. bul wildl price.can you put on the threat to human life and well-being? The council's reply that the service is still within safety one elic laid down by the Home Office simply the government's Ten years ago labour movement solidarity backed the fire fighters.
own plans for a national reorganisation to increase the 'efficiency' of the fire service.
One of the proposals in a recent national committee report was for changes He SuEll Dalicill the replacement of full-time by part-timers.
West Glamorgan is acting as a government stalking which would, implemented nationally, have dire both for firefighters themselves and for the service they're able to proindustrial solidarity with their West : Glamorgan colleagues.
FBU general secretary, Ken Cameron has said that the union will reconvene its national conference to consider national inaustrial acuol support of the South Wales fireIgnlets. He congratulated the firefighters for taking action and urged them cond i keep avoid isolathe 1101 fight'. Cameron condemned the use of the army and its 'green goddesses'. 'It's a bloody disgrace to the people they represent can protect tney inink lne) them with 30-year-old engines manned by people with only three days training'.
Executive
As we go to press the union's national executive is meeting to consider action proposals.
During the last national fire brigade's dispute ten years ago, huge wave of solidarity actions were launched across movement. • Similar support needs be generated now if the : 'money peere jobs services' policy of the West government : Glamorgan county council variety are to be defeated. STAFF at Murdoch's News International plant in Wapping have voted in favour of being represented by a union other than the EETPU. Just 140 voted for EETPU representation, 'of staff council, and 321 for another TUC-affiliated The TUC has been asked for assistance in the move to proper union organisation. A meeting of print unions is being called at TUC headquarters, House.
Postal strike vote LEADERS of the Union of Communication Workers have voted to ballot their members over strike action for a shorter working week.
The strike vote for a three hour reduction in the 43-hour weel will be held on 17 November. Under the law, action would have to take place within 28 days, would thereby disrupt Christmas post.
The Post Office which has offered a one-hour cut with productivity strings, has threatened 20,000 jobs if the unions take strike action.
Rail BRITISH Rail is proposing a widerancing clange to colletive bargaining arrangements in th industry. The board