Sections

[treasurechest]

Where is the "unity is strength"? The higher echelons of the FBU are a crock of S***, this carry on is detrimental to its membership, with pay talks around the corner and CPD not resolved fully. No wonder people are leaving in droves.

[big smoothie]

The sections still have a place in our union. It's not about abolishing them it's about reforming the perverse voting rights of the sections.

If you want to see why go and look at the agenda for annual conference and then ask an official who seconded and then spoke in support of certain resolutions and you will find out that the minority groups always supported each other in what can only be called a pact.

A group with 200 members should not be able to overturn a region with 7000 members.

A group of sections with less than 1000 members should not be able to overturn several regions with 10's of thousands of members.

Next year is the rule change conference...let's make sure of our resolutions forconference 2008.

There is a place on the EC for sections but only to represent their members in one member one vote.

It's not rascist. it's not homophobic. it is democratic.

[Tickle the Pickle]

The sections still have a place in our union. It's not about abolishing them it's about reforming the perverse voting rights of the sections.

If you want to see why go and look at the agenda for annual conference and then ask an official who seconded and then spoke in support of certain resolutions and you will find out that the minority groups always supported each other in what can only be called a pact.

A group with 200 members should not be able to overturn a region with 7000 members.

A group of sections with less than 1000 members should not be able to overturn several regions with 10's of thousands of members.

Next year is the rule change conference...let's make sure of our resolutions forconference 2008.

There is a place on the EC for sections but only to represent their members in one member one vote.

It's not rascist. it's not homophobic. it is democratic.

This is precisely what the members on stations are saying but their voice is not being heard.

It would be an interesting statistic to know just how many Brigade Committees debated this issue and had a clear mandate for their delegates at conference ?

Apathy in attending branch meetings and sending delegates to conference with no clear mandate leaves the delegates having to make a choice at conference. Ask yourself would you be brave enough to vote for change in the current poisonous climate where every pair of eyes on the conference floor are looking for your vote ?

In my opinion, the fear that prevents members speaking out also extends to the delegates on the conference floor.

Unless we provide a non-judgmental environment or mechanism where this debate can be had without fear of prejudice then the issue will continue to cause damage to this union.

Before this important debate can be had, crucial other elements need to be addressed, namely,

(a) We need to ask ourselves why our members are feeling disaffected and disenfranchised?

(b) We need to provide a mechanism or environment where the members can have their say without fear of prejudice or stigmatisation

© We need as a union the courage and strength to look inwardly at ourselves and be brave enough to correct mistakes, especially one's that involve the core value of democracy.

[big smoothie]

unity

Where is the "unity is strength"? The higher echelons of the FBU are a crock of S***, this carry on is detrimental to its membership, with pay talks around the corner and CPD not resolved fully. No wonder people are leaving in droves.


People are not leaving in their droves...............if you want to see what it's like to work in a company that does not allow trade unions go research the internet......thugs like mcGuirk would love it IF there were no unions. He would hire and fire with impunity, workers would work in fear of a regime that is corrupt and that would put firefighters lives at risk for a few bob and a medal.

Trade unions even for those that moan and berate are a safety net in case of injury or dispute with their employer. A Bloody good insurance policy.

I still remember a firefighter who retired 10 + years ago who was always running the union into the ground but who would not leave the union.....I always used him as the perfect example of why we needed to be in a union and he knew it................

[wilf]

[quote="Tickle the Pickle, post: 167188"]This is precisely what the members on stations are saying but their voice is not being heard.

It would be an interesting statistic to know just how many Brigade Committees debated this issue and had a clear mandate for their delegates at conference ?

Pickle,

I can tell you that suffolk branches were given the chance to vote on this issue,the womens section asked for both reso's to be discussed at meetings.
This was duely done and I can also inform you that it was debated fully at the BCM.The brigade chair and secetary were very clear on the mandate they were givern to take to conference.

[Tickle the Pickle]

Excellent ... exactly what should happen

any other brigades want to contribute ?