New Labour provokes confrontation

What started off as a pay dispute with the employers has now turned into a direct confrontation between firefighters and New Labour. Blair and Brown want public services on the cheap and the Fire Brigades Union stands in their way. That's why the government has provoked a new strike by blocking a settlement.

The government insists on the discredited Bain report proposals, which would mean job cuts and the undermining of working conditions as the price for any wage rise over 4%. Bain himself picks up a mere £160,000 a year as Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University, Belfast. He is also a paid non-executive director of three companies. Nice work if you can get it.

New Labour's determination to prevent a deal is also a declaration of war on other public sector workers like nurses, teachers and ambulance workers. The message is clear: the government stands or falls on its policies of low wages, 'flexible' working, weakened unions and privatisation.

Both the army and police have refused to cross picket lines, which has deepened the government's crisis. Now it says it may use contract drivers to seize fire engines from stations. New Labour has taken over where Thatcher left off in trying to destroy the trade unions.

Under these conditions, it is absolutely justified and necessary for the FBU to seek active support - which must include strike action - from other trade unions as well as the general public. Too much is at stake for others to stand back and let firefighters confront the government, the state and the media on their own. Any setback for the FBU will weaken the whole trade union movement, while defeat for Blair will strengthen everyone. 

New Labour can find money when it needs to. The cost of the planned attack and occupation of Iraq in order to control that country’s oil resources would pay for the firefighters’ claim many times over. But the simple truth is that this is a reactionary government dedicated to upholding business interests first and foremost.

Support for Blair and company is draining away. The Movement for a Socialist Future is organising a discussion about alternatives to New Labour. Join the MSF and help shape the future.

Movement for a Socialist Future
22 November 2002