Firefighters winning in Essex

"It's a waste of time talking to it," was how the tough-talking Chair of the Fire Authority in Essex described the Fire Brigades Union Executive. Councillor Tony Wright went on, "I would rather resign than negotiate with it...it's going to be a battle of wills now." A normal management-union bust up, but in Essex the firefighters have massive support among the local people they serve and the councillor in charge, whose other words of wisdom include "there is also the question of whether they have broken their contracts and whether we will sack them", represents Labour.

The past month has seen demonstrations, firefighters working with no pay when management refused to allow strikers back to work halfway through shifts, and local papers with front page "no cuts" campaigns.

Wright is eating his words. Within a week he backed down on a threat to cut a vital aerial ladder. The dispute continues in defence of 16 jobs and against cuts of £1.2 million, and in face of bewildering management tactics such as spending £1 million a month on emergency Green Goddesses and admitting that there is a considerable financial reserve ("don't tell the FBU", management said).

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