Members Circular: GENERAL ELECTION – POLITICAL FUND DONATIONS
March 27, 2010 by admin
Filed under Members Circulars
CIRCULAR: 2010HOC0197MW 23 March 2010
TO: ALL MEMBERS
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Dear Brother/Sister
GENERAL ELECTION – POLITICAL FUND DONATIONS
In 2004 the Union disaffiliated from the Labour Party. Members will recall that this was in response to the appalling treatment our members received from the New Labour Government following our claim for a pay rise.
The issue of Labour Party re-affiliation has been raised at our Conference on a number of occasions since – and each time has been decisively rejected. This reflects continuing and justified anger at our treatment in 2002/3 and the anger and frustration our members feel at the cuts agenda we face under the so-called ‘modernisation’ initiated by this Government.
It is important to note that throughout this time there have been MPs who have consistently defended Firefighters, the FBU and the Fire Service. The FBU Parliamentary Group includes MPs who have:
•Challenged the Government over Control Regionalisation.
•Questioned Ministers and challenged Government over various attacks on our pensions (e.g. the attack on ill-health pensions).
•Supported our lobbying campaign over Firefighter Fatalities and for improved operational standards and guidance.
•Supported our members who have been forced to take industrial action in Merseyside, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, West Midlands and South Yorkshire.
•Challenged Government over the lack of resources for dealing with major floods.
•Assisted in our campaign for long-term investment in the Fire and Rescue Service.
Every decision affecting our Service is a political decision and it is essential that we are engaged in this process and that there are MPs supporting us in that work. In extremely difficult circumstances we have built our Parliamentary Group into a very effective lobbying and campaigning body.
It is on the basis of these facts that the Executive Council has agreed to support the election campaigns of thirty MPs. Donations have been or will be made to these candidates from the Union’s Political Fund. Nothing can be donated from the Union’s General Fund.
It is important to note that there will be no national donation to the Labour Party or to any other political party. Each MP was discussed in relation to their record on the issues outlined above and related trade union issues.
The FBU will be supporting MPs who have supported Firefighters and the Fire Service and who have stood by us in the most difficult of times: people who are prepared to stand up to defend the Fire Service, to oppose cuts and to defend our jobs pay and conditions.
A further bulletin on these issues will be issued shortly.
Best wishes.
Yours fraternally
MATT WRACK
GENERAL SECRETARY
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