8/8/2019 NSSN leaflet supporting the FBU

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National Shop StewardsNetworkFor justice in the workplace, workers rights, solidarity and equality - trade union freedom

FIREFIGHTERS HOSPITALISEDIN BRUTAL STRIKEBREAKINGWorkers and trade unionists need to cometo fire-fighters' aid

Trade unionists across the

capital will be horrified to hear

about the assault by strike-

breakers on FBU members lawfullypicketingfire stations during their

strike on Monday 1st November.

Striking London fire-fighter Tamer

Ozdemir and FBU national executive

member for London Ian Leahair

were hospitalised after being run

down by vehicles driven by strike

breakers provided by the private

firm AssetCo and managers.

The London Shop Stewards Networkpledges its full support to the FBU

in their struggle against a bullying

management; the vicious tactic of

issuing 90-day redundancy notices

to all London fire-fighters in order

to plough through unnegotiated

changes to shift patterns will

send a shiver down the spine of

workers in all sectors. If this tactic

is successful, it will be seen as a

green light to other employers toforce through changes to hard won

terms and conditions.

On top of the immediate issues

of the strike, the injuries that FBU

members sustained from strike-

breakers on Monday represent

a serious threat to the right of all

trade unionists to take industrial

action, withdraw their labour and

organise pickets. We call on all trade

unionists to

express their

disgust at

AssetCo andLondon Fire

A u t h o r i t y

managers by

sending letters

of protest to:

ron.dobson@

l o n d o n - f i r e .

gov.uk.

The London

Shop Stewards Network alsobelieves that this scab crew is a

danger to the health and safety of

workers throughout the city. With

only 12 days training, they are not

qualified to deal with callouts and

do not have the capacity or the skill

to deal with emergencies in the

capital.

We therefore believe that trade

unionists in every workplace should

be requesting health and safety

audits, which should include trade

union consultation, into the safety

of opening businesses and services

on strike days. We recognise that

actual solidarity strike action is

difficult to organise due to the

prohibitive anti-trade union laws

put into place by Thatcher and

kept their by successive Tory and

Labour governments. However, we

believe that it is perfectly legitimate

to pursue the serious health andsafety concerns that all trade

unionists will have about working

on days when the FBU is on strike.

We also believe that if, at the end of

November, the 90-day redundancy

notices are implemented and

London Fire Authority carry out

their threat of mass sackings then

workers across London need to be

ready to respond with trade union-wide solidarity action.

The London Shop Stewards Network

stands ready to help organise any

protests or practical expressions of

solidarity that the FBU calls for and

urges all workers to do the same.

We are reliant on the heroic service

that the fire-fighters provide every

day of the year; now, they need our

support in return.

What you can do:Send letters of protest to ron.dobson@london-fire.gov.uk; Send messages

of solidarity to ian.leahair@fbu.org.uk;Visit your local firestations picket line on the 5th

November; Request a health and safety impact assesment at your workplace.

www.shopstewards.net info@shopstewards.net 07952 283 558