[Dave Mills]

We do 48 hours over 4 shifts on a four on four off basis in case you cant do the maths that works out to 42 hours a week .

Thats not part time .

I dont know anyone who works 48 hours and still holds another job.  I might be unusual, so do you know anyone who is not a fireman who manages that?  That suggests to me that youre not "working" those 48 hours you claim.

[Dave Willis]

Just banter really. It's a tradition that Firemen clean windows on there days off - I presume it's because they like ladders?
The point about witnessing people dying - unfortunately it comes with the job - does it mean you should get more money for it - I don't know but if you find it unpleasant and it gives you nightmares then get out. Nurses do the same and so do Police and Ambulance services.
I just can't fathom out why Firemen need two jobs when Police etc don't.
My parents were skint when I was growing up, my dad was a Policeman. I'm sure he wasn't allowed a second job it was called moonlighting I think and he was too knackered to do it anyway.

[robert mitchell]

We work 42 hours a week , and yes i do know people with evening and weekend jobs including a police officer .

There is pretty much zero overtime in the fire service .

For the record we are not asking for more money .

Anyone who doesnt find those kind of things unpleasant is not normal , that doesnt mean i dont want to do it.

I like the feeling you get when you know you have helped someone or even saved there life , or just saved there irreplaceable heirlooms/photos .

I just dont think people should be saying its easy when they have not done the job themselves , i wouldn't do that for other jobs.

[Dave Willis]

So, why the need for a second job? If the money is that poor why aren't you striking for more money? 

[Geoff]

Like us all when we get older, they want to feather their nest so that they are nice and comfy in their 'old age', which they seem to think is when they reach 50!

Ha ha!  I have no option but to carry on until I drop dead, but these guys want a nice office job when they get to 50.

It'd be a sad day when I fireman's family dies in a fire because the fire service told them to stay on strike, it really will be.  But it will also be the end of the union too.  That's bad, because I think unions are a force for good for everyday mundane stuff, but this is playing with fire.  Pun not intended.

[robert mitchell]

I do a second job so i can earn the £ 10000 a month for working 10-3 four days a week like all the rich window cleaners on here

I do a second job for a few reasons , my take home pay has been eroded by ever increasing pension contributions and only a 1% pay rise in the last four years.

It works out with the rise in the cost of living  on top of pension contribution increases that my wages are worth  roughly 25% less than they were four years ago so i need the money .

I also want to provide a good life for my misses and my children , dont see anything wrong with that .

Doing a second job also means that i dont have to claim family tax credit .

[Dave Willis]

So ... you're underpaid?

[gary999]

robert...like  stated before i really dont think you can win this battle
at this time..too many people are scratching around trying to make a living
to care about retirement at 60 and your pension.

i think you over estimate the support you have at this time..i havent
spoken to anyone personally who supports your strikes...i know its not
everyone before you say anything.

i dont believe personally there is any real dislike of firemen/women thats
reserved for teachers there are just more pressing concerns.

i really do believe that striking at this time is a mistake..god forbid
there isnt a major incident that costs lives whilst you are striking
it will leave you wide open to attack from all quarters especially the
lying cheating bleeders that run this country.

[robert mitchell]

Like us all when we get older, they want to feather their nest so that they are nice and comfy in their 'old age', which they seem to think is when they reach 50!

Ha ha!  I have no option but to carry on until I drop dead, but these guys want a nice office job when they get to 50.

It'd be a sad day when I fireman's family dies in a fire because the fire service told them to stay on strike, it really will be.  But it will also be the end of the union too.  That's bad, because I think unions are a force for good for everyday mundane stuff, but this is playing with fire.  Pun not intended.

You really dont have the slightest clue do you?

There are no office jobs , nobody is asking to retire at 50 , its 55.

The reasons why firefighters should not work past that age is well documented in the governments own research  AND that has been paid for by firefighters paying double the average pension contributions of any other job- PAID FOR!

If your mortgage company told you your mortgage was going to be five  years longer but you would only own 50% of your house at the end AND your payments are going to double - would you just say hey ho and let them do it?

[Geoff]

robert...like  stated before i really dont think you can win this battle
at this time..too many people are scratching around trying to make a living
to care about retirement at 60 and your pension.

i think you over estimate the support you have at this time..i havent
spoken to anyone personally who supports your strikes...i know its not
everyone before you say anything.

i dont believe personally there is any real dislike of firemen/women thats
reserved for teachers there are just more pressing concerns.

i really do believe that striking at this time is a mistake..god forbid
there isnt a major incident that costs lives whilst you are striking
it will leave you wide open to attack from all quarters especially the
lying cheating bleeders that run this country.

I generally follow this line ^.

We all need the firemen, we know that, in some way we are all co-dependent on each other, but I too have a feeling that this is not a good time for making such demands.

That said, I hate the idea that the energy industry adds on another 10% to our bills, which we ALL have to say, firemen or not.

[robert mitchell]

So ... you're underpaid?

You could argue a lot of jobs are underpaid , thats a different subject really .

I personally think soldiers are massively underpaid and pretty much left to rot when they leave the army , i also think they deserve the generous pension they had (now being hit by the government i believe) .

Is it right that a new soldier is on 19000 when they start yet a train driver gets 45000?

Its a different and quite big subject , for me personally i think its about right but should keep up with inflation but so should other jobs too .

[robert mitchell]

Does nobody understand the dispute ?

The firefighters  are not making any demands , we are not even saying the pension shouldnt change .

The government are imposing unfair demands on us and will not even get round the table and have any meaningful discussions.

This is about health and safety as well as the no job no pension issue.

More firefighters will die on the job , more members of the public will be injured or die because of these changes .

[Dave Willis]

What do your employers and indeed union think of it's members/employees having two jobs? What are the tax implications?

[Dave Willis]

Does nobody understand the dispute ?

The firefighters  are not making any demands , we are not even saying the pension shouldnt change .

The government are imposing unfair demands on us and will not even get round the table and have any meaningful discussions.

This is about health and safety as well as the no job no pension issue.

More firefighters will die on the job , more members of the public will be injured or die because of these changes .

To be honest many members of the public couldn't give a toss I would imagine. Most of them have suffered allready and are clinging on to crap paid jobs with crap working conditions and crap pensions. i can't see you lot opening the floodgates somehow. Good luck though.

[robert mitchell]

What do your employers and indeed union think of it's members/employees having two jobs? What are the tax implications?

As long as it doesnt interfere with your performance in your firefighting duties they have no problem with it .

They have no legal right to stop you working on your days off , regardless of what your job is , anyone can have a second job (excluding the armed forces as they are technically paid 24/7).

Im not sure what you mean by tax implications ?

If your second job is self employed you do a tax return , if its employed its done on p.a.y.e .

[robert mitchell]

i disagree , i think the public do care about the fire service, police, nhs etc being cut back .

How much do you think the fire brigade costs you?


Most of my friends work in private sector jobs and are on more money than me and get pay rises every year .

my old job was private sector and had a better pension than the one i have in the fire service.

[Dave Willis]

My wife works part time and took on a second job - she got hammered for tax on it because her tax allowance was only on the first job (I think  )

[robert mitchell]

if your tax allowance is used up on your first job you will pay 20% tax on every pound you earn in your second job , no different to earning an extra ten grand in your main job , everything over the allowance is taxed at 20% or 40% if you go into the next tax bracket up.

[landy2]

i say one thing if you dont like the conditions get another job  , but you wont because you know you have a good thing

[landy2]

also it came out recently the some police have a second job , didnt the firemen get a 14 % pay rise not long ago