07.05.1996

Merseyside firefighters ballot on Acas deal

Merseyside firefighters are balloting on a deal that may end their nine-month long dispute. Since October FBU members have had 20 24-hour strikes and before then a number of nine-hour stoppages. The ballots in favour of action were landslides with 84% turnouts and 81% voting for 24-hour strikes. It is in the context of this magnificent resistance that the current offer should be viewed.

FBU members voted to fight 20 job losses and a reduction in leave of three shifts which covered the shortfall in staff. The deal brokered by Acas saves not one job - all 20 will go. On leave only one day is lost in 1996/7 but a further day may go in the following year. It is a comprehensive defeat in terms of the negotiated outcome.

The offer came just before the local elections and a ballot to add two-hour strikes every day to the 24-hour strikes. A strike was due to coincide with the May Day march in support of Liverpool’s dockers. The 24-hour stoppage was due to start at midday so it would go into polling on the following day. The deal’s timing gave Merseyside’s Labour candidates a breathing space before the election.

The finances of the authority have also just received a boost. The strike was caused by cost-cutting measures the Labour authority took to get a financial deal from central government. The justification was the fire authority’s lack of funds. In fact the budget showed almost £2 million in surplus last financial year. Now the authority is in receipt of a further £2 million as they have been allowed to breach their cap. There is no doubt central government is rewarding the Labour group for services rendered. The council now has an extra £4 million, about 8% of the budget, to play with. This makes this deal worse than it seems at first sight.

All is not gloom, though the longer a dispute goes on, the less likely a favourable settlement is. The officials felt the need to put the deal to the membership, but have given no recommendation. There is a strong groundswell to reject the deal. If it were thrown out the only next step is to escalate sharply. A rejection is unlikely, though a large minority will vote no. There is no organised left or rank and file opposition. No leaflets have been circulated and no campaign fought.

After nine months this mood to reject is extremely healthy and shows the continuing willingness to fight. The extreme discipline and unity of the dispute is an inspiration and needs to be built on for the future. The fire service nationally faces increasing pressure. More disputes are likely at a national and local level. If Merseyside settles the workers will go back in good order with high morale despite the defeat on terms.

The authority has been badly mauled and will not relish another fight. The final deal contains a poison clause that could cause the authority real problems for the future. All “effects on service provision” are to be referred to a working party chaired by Acas. The authority has plans to reduce provision through its ‘fire risk review’. That may now be seriously bogged down.

Every cloud has a silver lining, you might say.

Chris Jones
Socialist Labour Party,
ex-chair FBU, Merseyside Brigade