Paul Embery

[The King]

Have never met Paul but heard him speak and seen him on the news.
I would be proud to be represented by him.
Stay strong and fight your corner. What's right is right.

[Nightstaffer]

The Labour Party is no better.
I attend local Labour Party meetings.
The voters in the constituency voted to Leave
Yet officials at branch meetings started to condemn the leave result immediately after the referendum in 2016


They seemed to be “ in the know”
And now surprise surprise Labour is campaigning to Remain.

Where does that leave those that voted Leave and got the result in the referendum.

Seems as if there is an “ accepted “ view that’s decided by a few behind closed doors in an undemocratic way and woe betide anyone that doesn’t preach the party line.

The same few that get to decide which causes to support regardless of the majority view
“ For the few not the many”

Bad news about Paul - wrongful decision

[Lou1z]

Not to take the emphasis away from the situation Paul finds himself in, but please remember that each and everyone of you who posts or views this site is breaking union rules and you could find yourself in the same situation.

For clarity.... THIS SITE IS STILL BANNED (by the FBU) and they could in effect hold anyone to account for using it.

There's plenty on here stating this so if anybody wants a look back in history, just have a search on here or even the FBU website.
eg. http://www.uk-fire.net/forum1/index.php?...fbu.13922/

It still amazes me to this day, that a union that (seems) to promote free speech etc, makes very hypocritical moves such as the banning of a website all those years ago to the Paul Embery situation today. Free speech, democacy ? You having a laugh!!!

[John Thomas]

Not to take the emphasis away from the situation Paul finds himself in, but please remember that each and everyone of you who posts or views this site is breaking union rules and you could find yourself in the same situation.

For clarity.... THIS SITE IS STILL BANNED (by the FBU) and they could in effect hold anyone to account for using it.

There's plenty on here stating this so if anybody wants a look back in history, just have a search on here or even the FBU website.
eg. http://www.uk-fire.net/forum1/index.php?...fbu.13922/

It still amazes me to this day, that a union that (seems) to promote free speech etc, makes very hypocritical moves such as the banning of a website all those years ago to the Paul Embery situation today. Free speech, democacy ? You having a laugh!!!

Seems odd what they did with Embery yo say the least. I assumed he was Wracks prodigie. How wrong can you be.

Dont remember anything about this site being censured by the FBU. Im told Wrack and other senior officials post on here. Does that mean they should get the Embery treatment? Embery posted stuff on twitter a few years ago and the FBU said it was his personal account and nothing to do with tge union so they couldnt take action.

The only thing for sure is Wracks 80's Militant involvement is now shining through. Do as I say and not as I do.

[Lou1z]

To be fair, MW had no choice in the banning of this site. It was one of his first tasks voted through by the EC so he didn't have much of a choice.
But there were moves later on which I know certain people were involved in which left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. That's in the past but the same sort of thing is still going on with the PE situation.
If you think that half the population voted to leave the EU, then it stands to reason that there are a lot of leavers in the union and some probably vocally support leaving too. What will the FBU do with them?

[www.fbusurrey.co.uk]

I was there at the inception of this site and the beginnings of Grassroots FBU which Paul, Matt, Andy Dark and Wooly were instrumental in starting or supporting.

The idea being to take back control of the FBU from Gilchrist, Fordham, Winters etc.

There was recruitment from across the country to join Grassroots and especially from those Brigades that rejected the 2003 pay offer. Surrey being one of them. In the end, a very small, but highly influential group of members who have gone on to change the shape and direction of the union.

Paul was/is a great speaker. Passionate, knowledgable, formidable. I didn't agree with his EU speech or the company he chose to share it with, but I agree with his right to express his personal views away from the FBU. However......

I nor most of the posters on this site were not present in Blackpool to hear the debate at recall conference. The FBU has rules, process's, objectives and aspirations which are constantly changing and evolving as a democratic union responds to demands both culturally as well as service specific. I would hope that these would all have been taken into account and discussed before a decision was made about Paul's future.
I am certain that the FBU is far worse off without Paul's involvement, passion and fighting spirit.

This site was banned by the FBU during Gilchrist's time in office. Hence my tag line at the bottom of all my posts since 2002/3 "With every post I upset Mike Fordham a little bit more".
I was at conference when he asked Iron Man Mike to stand up and be counted. One of those cringey, embarrassing silent moments when the tumble weed rolls in and Fordham looked instantly older and stupider.

Iron Man's presence has been somewhat lacking for many years now. Think we all miss him. I'm sure he misses us too.

The site remains banned by the FBU despite Matt Wrack's attempt to legitimise it a fair few years ago. We are a democratic union and it is the EC who had the ultimate say on UK Fire's fate. Times have changed since 2002 and I'm sure that this site is a mild irritation to the FBU, rather than the game changer it was back then. Don't get me wrong, it's still the best, the most honest and relevant networking site within the fire community. That's thanks to all those that post here and the Mods who do such a great job.

Hope you are well

Take care

wwwDot

[Duped Again]

Yes Paul was to a certain extent a prodigy. Apparently articulate, sociable, capable....etc, etc.

Perhaps someone seen him as the man who would be king and took him out?

Now I wondero_O???!

[Yowler]

UnHerd https://unherd.com

[B]GROUPTHINK[/B]


The betrayal of Paul Embery
The FBU is attacking democracy itself, not just one heroic firefighter


KATE HOEY

@KateHoeyMP

4 MINS
29 JULY 2019
Back in March, on the day we were supposed to Leave the European Union, there was a rally at Westminster. Emotions ran high. People had travelled to London from all corners of the UK to tell Parliamentarians how angry they felt about the extension to the departure date. The cross-party platform featured speakers across a wide political spectrum and it had one aim: to call for the referendum result to be respected.

One of the best, and most carefully listened to speeches, was the one delivered by Paul Embery, on behalf of Trade Unionists Against the EU. In it, he reiterated his position on the Brexit debate – that democracy must be defended.

I have known Paul for a number of years: he is a firefighter and member of the National Executive of the Fire Brigade’s Union and I chaired the FBU’s Parliamentary group. I also know him as a long-standing Labour Party member; he has spoken at Labour Party conference fringe meetings for many years. He also writes compellingly for this website.

He is a socialist with deeply felt principles and an active supporter of Blue Labour — a grouping that wants to return the Party to its original roots and values of work, family and community. He is also passionately and vocally pro-Leave. At the rally when he was introduced, no mention was made of his elected office or even his membership of the FBU. He spoke in his own time and not on behalf of the FBU.


SUGGESTED READING

How to fix Britain after Brexit
BY PAUL EMBERY


Nonetheless, shortly after the rally, Matt Wrack, the General Secretary of the FBU, issued a statement which said that it was outrageous that so-called Trade Union officials and Labour MPs attended joint rallies with Nigel Farage and others on the nationalist Right. In no uncertain terms, he stated: “They are a disgrace to the traditions of the Labour movement.”

His statement so angered me, that I immediately resigned from chairing the FBU Parliamentary group. In my resignation statement I pointed out that to imply that people such as Claire Fox and Brendan O’Neill, both of whom were at the rally and had spoken, were nationalist Right was an outrage.

Matt Wrack, undeterred, went on to make a formal complaint against Paul. This was duly investigated by the Vice-President of the FBU, Andy Noble, and Paul was suspended from the executive council. A few weeks later, at an internal disciplinary hearing, Paul was removed from his position and banned from holding office for two years. The executive council ruled that in criticising anti-Brexit Labour movement leaders during his speech, he had undermined the union’s own stance on the issue and thus acted in a way “prejudicial to the interests of the union”.

Last week, he lost his appeal by a narrow margin of just six votes out of 112.

Matt Wrack has personally led the charge against Paul. It’s odd, given that he has spent his career publicly championing freedom of speech, that he should take such a stance.


[COLOR=rgb(20, 20, 20)]This is the same Matt Wrack [/COLOR]who in the past has said:

[INDENT]“To address the huge challenges our movement faces today, we need to build a culture of debate and democracy which accepts that there will be different views and sharp difference of opinion. Democracy must include the right to express those differences.”[/INDENT]

It is disappointing, too, given that Wrack has always argued that genuine political disagreements should never be resolved by resorting to the rule book. So why would he take against Paul in this fashion?

There has certainly been much support for Paul and his writings and tweets over the past year, who was seen as one of the only credible challengers for the position of General Secretary when it is up for re-election next year.

But Wrack’s vendetta against such a stalwart campaigner for the rights of the worker has done huge damage to the reputation of the FBU. There has been an outpouring of anger against the leadership from outraged grassroots members. One member Tweeted: “I would say it’s the union’s loss, but it’s the members that ultimately suffer when decisions like this are taken, because they no longer have people to represent them fully.”

In an unprecedented intervention, the Deputy Commissioner and Director of Operations at the London Fire Brigade, Tom George, said: “I never interfere with union affairs but occasionally it doesn’t hurt to share one’s opinion. I feel the way Paul Embery has been treated recently by his own Union is appalling and dare I say it scandalous.”

Paul’s supposed crime was to oppose the FBU’s Brexit position – but this is no longer an issue about views on the European Union. The treatment of him is not about Leave or Remain. In fact, it has united Leavers and Remainers who believe in the principles of freedom of expression and the right of everyone to hold to their personal beliefs. Paul himself has stated the conduct of the union’s leadership throughout this episode has been deeply worrying.

I spoke to Paul before I sat down to write this. He was resolute and quietly furious:

[INDENT]“The investigation into me by the union’s vice-president was particularly disgraceful, and worse than anything I have ever seen by any employer. It can only be described as a shameless political witch-hunt,

It deviated wildly from the original complaint about my speech at the rally, and even sought to intrude into personal areas of my life, such as demanding information relating to my private income. It amounted to a blatant dig for dirt in an effort to blacken my name. Without a shred of evidence, the vice-president accused me of misusing union funds – a grave and sinister accusation which, in the end, collapsed when it was found to be utterly baseless. It was an indication of how far some people were prepared to go in an effort to discredit me.”[/INDENT]

Matt Wrack’s spiteful actions on behalf of the Union represent an attack on democracy itself, not just one heroic firefighter. Nor will this be the end of the matter. I am certain the majority of the union’s membership will condemn what has happened to Paul and ultimately Wrack will be answerable to them. Paul served the union proudly for 20 years; it should be ashamed of this despicable betrayal.

https://unherd.com/2019/07/the-betrayal-of-paul-embery/



Good man that Paul Embery.
That's my OOT membership under review.

[John Thomas]

Union seems more and more autocratic than democratic these days.

[Lou1z]

Ummmm..... don't underestimate the EC etc. They're a clever bunch at times and will defend their beliefs etc at all costs. Even the way they word their circulars is thought out to get subconscious messages across. And ultimately, they're like most others..... your're either in the club and play their tune or they want rid of you.