FBU picker of TUC General Council on 21 December, trutbful, they haven't helped us at all.
'We've had old age pensioners giving us 2p, but these policemen who're carning the equivalent of E80 and 100 a. week and who are riding on our back their secretary says that if the firemen get 30 per cent, they want 30 per ceot - haven't themscives NO WAY "We've asked them if tbey'll bave a collecting box at the police station, no way tbey'!! touch that. They say they toast talking about orders. Well, 1 read that in the Nuremberg trialsas well'.
NO ICE The latest offer from the employers cut no ice with either of the men. Pete pointed out:
members is not a wage increase In money terms, it is a wage cut. At present some of our members qualify for the family inconse supplement. But with ten per cent on the basic wage they montget it.
•In money terms we'retalking about perhaps a E3 increase in take home pay with the loss of all those allowances which firemen can pee al present le help food and clothe thei children.
Both Pere and Geoff argued there were even problems with the present FBU claim of average manual earnings plus 10 per cent. The average wage being publlshed in the New Earnings Survey which is at least Ter montis out of date when it i published. Neither is under an illusion about the dit ficulties of witting even chat claim.
Inthisrespect, said Geoff, the betraval of the TUC cannot he minionised?
ACCEPT CONDITIONS They went against their own Congress ruling for free collective bargaining. They col munion that was on official and nationa. strike to accept the Government's conditions, the same conditions the Congress voted against by accepting free collecrive bargaining'.
But if the TUC sell-out made the strike more difficult to win it and the strike itself has had other effects. Effocts which will bring lirtle comfort to the leadership of the TUC. Geaft Poxon's hna comment was Ot bow the struggle as a whole had affected thestrikers 'Political consciousness has risen a hell of a loc. Ir's bard to gauge, but tibitkitbas. They're more ready to sand up for tbemiscives, and they're more ready to stand up for orber people. Thar isthe main thing,