Finance Ireland Share Discussion Threads

[techno1] 15/11/2002 20:30

So , let me get this right....
A spotty faced kid of 18 with no qualifications joins the FB.
His starting salary will be 30k ,get real.
wuzzup or whatever you are called tonight, get back on the medication, pillock.

[jaxaxe] 15/11/2002 20:23

Sparky,
its super that youre back on your keyboard and can find the time to post(you must be at work).
I must admit to being quite shocked to discover that the action response times acheived by our country`s armed forces was much faster than those of the fire brigade(its been mentioned on the news today,plese feel free to confirm it).Perhaps you could explain why the forces made better times than your lot,Im sure everyone would be interested in your reply.
Thanks in anticipation,Jack levi.

[sparky999] 15/11/2002 20:07

Who is your mate?

[billy3] 15/11/2002 19:59

Thanks for the offer.
1. I've already been there.
2. I'm working all weekend
3. We'd never agree ! I've had this discusiion today with a mate of mine who is also avon brigade. We just agreed to disagree.

[sparky999] 15/11/2002 19:57

Billy why don't you come to the station tomorrow and I will show you around.Come and have a chat.I will make you a cuppa and you can ask as many questions as you like.

[wuzzup] 15/11/2002 19:28

b jonC does the C at the end of your name stand for what ryhmes
with james hunt

[spongy2] 15/11/2002 18:25

I notice their support is now down to 36%.
No wonder Gilchrist is talking about reconsidering the offer.

[jaxaxe] 15/11/2002 18:14

Boon,
you are digressing yet again;I know it must be painfull for you to see the retainers and your senior officers seemingly betray the fbu but they are adament that they have a duty to serve the public.Thats why these dedicated men and women joined the service.They have agreed to fully co-operate with the government and give whatever expertise and help that they can,that includes being deployed to other areas,the insurance isnt a problem for government property,you must realise that governments can commandeer any thing in times of a national emergency...it doesnt matter who owns it!
I note that you refer to the war that may be forthcoming in Iraq,you should know that the start of it is in the hands of the government and its they and the United nations-in particular the USA as to when it begins...the firemen will not be able to use the war as a bartering tool(sadly it is evident that the fbu had such a nafairious notion in mind)!
Our armed forces are a massive well run organisation - it would be within its limits to deal with both instances.
Jack levi.

[wuzzup] 15/11/2002 18:13

b "techno is evil"

[sparky999] 15/11/2002 17:51

Did my first strike duty today.

MASSIVE public support,I have been surprised.The press has shown we are not monsters.The tide has turned and public sympathy is gathering fast, just watch all the opinion poles start to turn.

[spongy2] 15/11/2002 17:37

So you're hoping for another labour govt under different leadership, lol, cloud cuckoo land
Blair will come out of this covered in roses you wait and see.
The FBU are way off the mark this time, public sympathy is waning fast, and in reality has never been particularly high, despite the BBC and C4 trying to play up the supporters, giving them headlines.

[boonyed] 15/11/2002 16:49

I doubt very much that retained Firefighters are being sent all over the Country, they would not be insured for one thing outside their Authority controlled area.

The Firefighters to which you refer are probably MOD Firefighters from the RAF or Navy. The Navy guys are trained in Breathing Apparatus but not necessarily the use of modern appliances and/or equipment, the RAF people certainly are and are trained to quite a high standard, but do concentrate on airfeild firefighting, as opposed to house fires, RTA's and chemical incidents.

As for militant Firefighters being sacked, what will the Government do then, call up the T.A., put off the war, employ people from scratch and train them up or reemploy the sacked Firefighters who will no doubt jump at the chance of being re-hired for less money on totally different contracts.

Not a likely scenario.

This dispute may see off the FBU, it could also bring down this Government and end President Tone's big plan. With a bit of luck.

The problem will be who will take over, IDS? I fear not.
BOON

[jaxaxe] 15/11/2002 15:58

Boon,
there does seem to be a lack of persperscasity on your behalf.Let me explain:We arnt talking about authorities here were talking government it doesnt matter what anyone other than they say..beit councils,authorities or whoever.The government if it so desires can use the law to take what it wants - if they decide that the outcome is for the greater good(thats the law as it stands)!However if you digested my previous post you would note that I did mention that the retainers and volunteers are being despatched all over the country...including the Avon area,these men are,(Im sure that youll correct me if I am in error)experianced firemen.Every avenue has been explored by the government...they are prepared for all eventualities.
Your second point regarding firemen blacking the engines when they return to work is based on the assumption that you will actually have a job to return to-you may not;the government can sack you if the dispute is classed as unlawful and that may be a future step if the FBU keep up their recalcitrant stance.Realistically no fireman would refuse to work on the appliance - that in itself would be a refusal of labour and a sacking offence so the situation would not arise.
Jack levi.

[boonyed] 15/11/2002 14:39

Well done to the Chairman of Avon Fire Authority, who has stated that his Authority will not allow the Armed Forces to put themselves and the Public at risk by using the Fire Appliances covered by his Authority.

Some are owned by the Council and others are leased, part of the lease agreement states that only qualified Firefighters will be allowed to use such vehicles.

I would imagine that if some Brigades, especially those with militant Unionists, alllow the use of appliances by the Armed Forces, then those appliances maybe blacked, how would the Authorities stand when the firefighters returned to work?

BOON

[jaxaxe] 15/11/2002 14:05

Boon,
youre clutching at straws,the armed forces drivers are the best in the world,it doesnt matter if they are flatbed,bunkbed,doublebed or waterbed - our troops will have someone there that can drive and use them.The retainers and volunteers are being despatched all over the country to cover every area;you must remember that there are station officers and commanders who are very closely connected to government and the armed forces...most of them came from there...which may be why the ladder to the very top jobs in the service are often inexplicably blocked(does it ring a bell)!
Gilchrist is a Godsend to the government,hes going to do for them what theyve been trying to acheive for years,the total dismantling of the present fbu and the instalation of a modern government friendly union...Who do you imagine that the government will reward most for their unswerving devotion to duty when this disputes over....not just the armed forces...look a little closer to home-the retainers of the RFU..
..As regards the witty anology,its a more of a paradox,our troops DO actually `drive`battle ships and every other method of modern transport.....even a dingy and a greengoddess...our troops can drive anything....the RAF drive super sonic jets...every method of transport is within their capabilities......the same can not be said for a fireman!
jack levi.
jack levi.

[boonyed] 15/11/2002 13:18

Jack

At the end of the day they are class 3 (LGV) heavy goods vehicles, anyone with a driving licence could possibly drive them. The main difference between the Fire Appliances used by the Fire Service and a flat bed truck which delivers steel, or a three tonne Army lorry is that they have semi automatic gear boxes with a state of the art centrifugal pump strapped to the back and filled to the gunwhales with shiney expensive, dangerous equipment.

The difficulty is not driving them, it's using them effectively and, more importantly, safely. I know I've driven and used all three.

There was a good analogy used by a Firefighter on a t.v. programme last night, he said "you wouldn't let a person with a dinghy licence drive a battleship."

BOON

[boonyed] 15/11/2002 11:38

The Government will get the reserve appliances, the Union members will not, and indead can not, stop the Army using them, and hopefully the Armed Forces will receive adequate training in their use prior to the next round of strikes.

Will that stop the strike going ahead, will people stop dying, will it dampen the spirits of the striking Firefighters? ........Of course not.

These appliances are reserves, that means they have served their useful life and are used as spares in case the vehicles in service break down or need to be taken 'off the run' for any length of time. They have ladders but that's all, the equipment is swapped over from the appliance which is being taken off the run. Most of these trucks are knackered, but they are better than the green goddesses.

Training to drive the appliances at speed, takes 5 days but each driver has to get mileage prior to the course, pump operation takes 2 weeks but is ongoing, use of the ladders perhaps a couple of weeks also ongoing, by that i mean that the training in the use of these appliances and equipment is carried out by crews constantly, they gain experience and expertise throughout their working lives.

This cry for the Armed Forces to use the reserve appliances is a Tory ploy to increase pressure on the Government, all they are doing is picking up on one small part of this dispute to make it look as if the Government is not handling the situation. President Tony will be forced into making a decision on the appliances, which could make the situation worse and could cost some poor Squadie his life.

BOON

[jaxaxe] 15/11/2002 09:18

The cracks are begining to show in the resolve of the strikers...many are already holding clandestine meetings with the retainers with a veiw to resuming normal working.The FBU are furious that the retainers are training the armed forces to use the red appliance`s.The recruitment lists are also being scanned to see if new firemen with the relevent skills can come on stream imeadiately.
Gilchrist was visibly shaken yesterday when he was told that 400 appliances are already ear marked for use by the army;training was apparantly going on whilst the talks were first ongoing.
Big John Prescot has most certainly deliverd another knockout blow to recalcitrant elements in the fire service,Gilchrists seconds better get the bucket and sponge ready....the fbu are on the ropes and the canvas is coming closer!

[bomfin] 15/11/2002 00:55

If he's offered 20% I'm off to buy a crash helmet.