Pinned Tweet
I am standing to be your next NASUWT general secretary. I want to win for the heroes in our classrooms.
I am proud to be backed by your NASUWT national executive: chosen by teachers for teachers. I am proud to have a record of winning pay rises, maternity benefits and pension disputes.
Your vote will arrive to your home address, please make your voice heard.
If you would like to keep up with my campaign and help build a strong, united and outward looking NASUWT then join my whatsapp group here 👉 chat.whatsapp.com/I7ZVlYKBt5…
6
27
51
5,591
RT
Over next two days please remember:
Firefighters did not put flammable cladding on Grenfell Tower.
Firefighters risked their own lives time and again during the fire.
Government has done nothing substantive in 28 months.
#Grenfell
236
6,775
12,332
....and please remember for the future: This is what trade unionists look like.
#GrenfellTower
157
3,571
5,213
RT
The fire service employers have just offered our members a 2% pay increase - i.e. another pay cut
It’s an insult to all FBU members & I’m sure will be treated as such.
We will now discuss with our members and plan our response.
#CostOfLivingCrisis
#WorkersNeedAPayRise
56
866
2,266
A victory for the @RMTunion will be a victory for all workers. Support the rail strikes. Support the picket lines.
Solidarity with the RMT; Support the rail strikes fbu.org.uk/circulars/2022hoc…
28
435
1,741
Why should workers accept pay cuts while corporations enjoy a profits boom and millionaires get richer and richer?
#EnoughIsEnough
#KayBurley: "You've been offered 5%. Why is that not enough?"
@MattWrack: "Because inflation is 11%. So thats a 6% pay cut. Why should workers anywhere be told to take a pay cut?"
Well said Matt & solidarity with all @fbunational members currently voting on strike action.
35
409
1,572
RT RT
#Pensions victory
I am very pleased to announce that we have WON our legal case against the government over pension protection.
V v happy.
Well done FBU - well done for determination and for sticking together.
Will assess and report further.
103
709
1,429
Overwhelming!
FBU members vote by 79% to REJECT employers’ pay offer (pay cut).
We will now write to employers and government/s.
Our Executive Council will now plan for a strike ballot.
#FairPayOrFireStrike
35
454
1,345
We’ve done it!
I’m honoured to be re-elected as the General Secretary of the FBU.
67% of the vote: a higher share of the vote than I won when first elected in 2005.
And the highest share of the vote in any FBU General Secretary election ever.
Thanks so much.
#WeStandTogether
171
258
1,385
What a shameful bit of political cowardice from the Labour leadership.
Labour refuses to promise repeal of planned Tory anti-strike laws theguardian.com/uk-news/2022…
128
538
1,314
Ian is, without any doubt, one of the finest MPs currently in Parliament.
You have our support, comrade.
I am proud of the work I have done serving West Derby in Parliament, but there is more to be done. I ask all West Derby Labour Party members to give me that chance.
#KeepIanByrneMP
20
343
1,180
It will be deeply upsetting to bereaved and survivors of #Grenfell fire that the report has been leaked.
As a core participant we have signed non disclosure agreement.
Press is utterly failing to address issue of CLADDING or scrutinise the decisions of government ministers.
42
553
1,158
Remarkably powerful scenes as community meet firefighters
#Grenfell
11
275
1,128
Some of these anti-Corbyn Labour staff/former staff seem to have a rather sick interest in people dying in a fire.
I don’t find that funny.
I
23
283
1,079
There’s nothing like impartial assessment and scrutiny.... and this is nothing like impartial assessment and scrutiny.
Whatever your own politics this is a really big moment - Labour could now be an opposition that gets things done + carries out effective scrutiny - irrespective of anyone's ideas, Labour under Corbyn struggled ever to do that
40
321
1,087
I have to report that I have not been re-elected as General Secretary of the FBU.
I am proud to have led the Fire Brigades Union for two decades, a period which has seen eight Prime Ministers. We have fought back against attacks on the fire service and we have laid the ground for real progress.
Much of the FBU’s work in that time is only now coming to fruition. For the first time in more than twenty years, we should soon see national standards in the fire service, and the FBU is able to play its role in advising ministers directly on fire service policy.
Because of our campaigning, and that of other unions, we are also likely to see the biggest workers’ rights package in recent years, including the repeal of anti-union laws that sought to ban effective strike action in our sector.
By mobilising and winning an overwhelming mandate for industrial action, the FBU has won a 16% pay rise over the past three years, with no strings attached. We have also had significant progress on maternity pay and the retaining fee for RDS firefighters.
I am proud to have led the longest period of strike action in our union’s history, over pensions, in 2013-15. Our legal fight on pensions has won many millions for firefighters and £19bn for workers across the public sector.
Our DECON campaign has changed the conversation in our sector about fire contaminants.
The FBU has played a leading role in the fight for equality, in the face of some appalling behaviours and a systemic failure by fire service leadership. This work has meant having difficult conversations inside our union and must be continued.
I leave the FBU with my head held high. Since the age of 16 I have been an active anti -racist, anti-fascist. I became a socialist as a teenager and I have been a trade unionist all my working life. My views and values have not changed and I will continue that fight.
168
214
1,146
152,715
We robbed you of your pensions....
We froze your pay....
We slashed your jobs....
We ignored your concerns....
But.
Happy Christmas anyway.
Lots of love, the Home Office team.
We would like to thank our emergency services for the incredible work they do – not just at Christmas, but on every day and night of the year. #CelebratingOurServices
38
612
890
Tommy Robinson and his band of thugs are not the voice of the working class. No one elected him, he doesn't represent anyone.
I am proud to be part of the trade union bloc that does represent the real voice of the working class, the democratic voice and the anti-fascist voice.
Our message tomorrow is clear: Nae Pasaran ✊
2,093
235
845
234,139
Let’s be clear: Boris Johnson presided over worst ever cuts in as mayor of London.
His government has inflicted worst cuts in modern history on fire service funding.
And he leads a government which since #Grenfell completely fails to address fire policy failures.
#boltonfire
Fire crews at the scene of #BoltonFire have been visited by Prime Minister @BorisJohnson who has seen for himself the devastation caused by the blaze and the hard work and dedication of our firefighters. 🔥👩🏻🚒💪
38
528
825
Fire safety in Britain is an utter disgrace.
Government fire policy in Britain is an utter disgrace.
#Bolton
#Fire
BBC News - Bolton fire: Huge blaze breaks out at student flats bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ma…
47
557
784
Firefighters across the UK have spoken. This is a decisive mandate for action.
I would like to thank all FBU members who voted and campaigned in this ballot. After more than a decade of attacks on our pay, our message is clear: we will fight for fair pay.
#FairPayOrFireStrike
27
278
815
88,792
The details revealed in this report are deeply, deeply alarming. We cannot and will not let it be buried.
‘Hostility to Corbyn' curbed Labour efforts to tackle antisemitism, says leaked report theguardian.com/politics/202…
31
453
802
Jonathan: Why has it taken you so long to realise - and why do you need the cover of a Sunday Times article?
It’s been blatantly obvious from the start that pre-planning was somewhere between an appalling failure and non-existent.
Serious questions raised in this over whether UK response to #COVID too slow.
- Emergency stockpiles of PPE had dwindled & some out of date.
- Pandemic planning a ‘casualty of austerity.’
- PM missed cobra meetings early on.
thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/…
39
344
773
The Times tells a lie about @AndyMcDonaldMP and has to apologise.
Our union policy is to support a two state solution.
There is nothing in Andy’s comment which contradicts such an approach.
Labour leadership is entirely wrong and should lift suspension immediately.
33
293
726
53,442
Government #Covid policy:
Blame young people
Blame teachers
Blame the public
Blame firefighters
Excuse Cummings
Excuse unsafe workplaces
Excuse lack of planning
Accept no responsibility. Ever.
Ends.
13
304
709
Firefighters and their union, the Fire Brigades Union, will face another stitch up tomorrow: 22 January.
The powers-that-be do not like us:
Because we stand up for ourselves;
Because we fight for safety in the workplace.
Hirelings do their bidding.
Watch this space.
18
249
639
Thatcher did it to the miners - calling them “The Enemy Within.”
Now the second rate, pound-shop Thatchers try it on again; blame workers for wanting to be able to pay the household bills.
Striking UK workers playing into Putin’s hands, says Zahawi theguardian.com/uk-news/2022…
28
222
630
After long discussions yesterday, fire service employers have confirmed a revised pay offer. 7% backdated to 1 July 2022 and 5% from 1 July 2023.
We will consult members on this and will not call strikes during consultation.
Further information to follow after Executive Council.
40
135
671
164,928
RT RT
Pensions case:
Government is NOT granted leave to appeal.
We win!
Another step in our fight for #PensionJustice
#FirefighterPensions
43
288
635
The government said all Grenfell-style cladding would be removed by this month. Figures show 300 buildings are yet to have the flammable material remediated huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/g…
13
453
616
Another attack on firefighters begins.
Inspectors appointed by Tory ministers start their misleading and union bashing attack on us on @BBCr4today
They manage to make 3 false assertions in a matter of 2 minutes. Good going.
#InspectorStitchUp
21
357
597
It’s a honour personally & for our union, to be elected as President of the TUC for the coming year. The strikes of the past 18 months are just a first sign of the power workers have when we organise together.
Matt Wrack becomes new TUC President | TUC tuc.org.uk/news/matt-wrack-b…
66
159
581
50,780
RT
We had fun making this.
Bella Ciao
#BellaCiao
International solidarity to workers everywhere on front line against #Covid_19
In the words of ‘Bella Ciao’ we send a heartfelt message of solidarity to firefighters and workers in Italy - and across the world. (2/3)
21
255
547
This is a cowardly, undemocratic and politically inept decision by @PeoplesMomentum
If you run away at the first sign of trouble you will never achieve change.
What we heard was an angry rant. Nothing anti-Semitic.
Disgraceful decision.
The elected officers of our National Coordinating Group have decided to withdraw Momentum's support for Pete Willsman in Labour's ongoing NEC election.
Please vote Dar, Elmi, Garnham, Henderson, Lansman, Mishra, Webbe & Williams: yourlabournec.co.uk 👍
#LabourNEC #JC9
50
302
512
It does not help for Chief Fire Officers to claim that #Grenfell could not have been predicted.
The FBU warned about cladding fires as long ago as 1999. To the House of Commons!
Yes - 20 years ago.
#Dispatches
20
306
532
This is such an obvious and logical move. Well said @GMB_union
I've signed @GMB_Union petition to call on the Prime Minister to requisition private hospital beds to help the NHS tackle coronavirus.
Stand with us? ↓ #COVID_19UK gmb.org.uk/campaign/requisit…
16
294
497
RT RT
#Pensions
Happy Christmas - Glad Tidings on pensions.
Just out of the ET remedy hearing. Everything has gone to plan. Press release and circular to follow.
And look at the name of the venue: Victory House,
40
181
520
Another group of workers insulted and attacked by their employers and the government:
Firefighters’ 2% pay offer “utterly inadequate” fbu.org.uk/news/2022/06/27/f…
13
235
499
My initial comment on leaked Labour Party report.
Seems to confirm what many LP members knew or thought between 2015 and 2020.
#LabourReport
24
261
495
The fantastic firefighters of North Kensington and neighbouring stations once again show their huge respect for the community.
#Grenfell
3
104
563
11,716
Hi Luke
Fake news alert.
There are various views among unions on LP structures.
But that is NOT what “The unions said…”
#LabourConference2021
7
143
508
Well known that Diane faces more racist abuse than any other MP. The Labour Party has still not addressed the racism & islamaphobia exposed in the Forde Report. They need to address this accordingly.
Resolve the investigation. Restore the whip. No stitch up.
Solidarity Diane.
As a Black woman, and someone on the left of the Labour Party, I have unfortunately been forced to reach the conclusion that I will not get a fair hearing from this Labour leadership.
13
165
485
43,186
Cameron and May ‘must be called before inquiry to answer for Grenfell’ independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho…
18
254
464
At a loss as to why the views I set out in my letter are remotely controversial in Labour mov.t circles. 🤷♂️
Natalie Elphicke remains a right wing, anti-union politician
Natalie Elphicke’s anti-strike stance ‘incompatible’ with Labour, says TUC president theguardian.com/politics/art…
38
233
485
39,763
RT
Please share
Today is Firefighters Memorial Day - marked across the world.
At noon firefighters will hold a minute’s silence at fire stations.
Please share this video.
#FMD2020
#WeRemember
Fire Brigades Union
7
401
460
Unions rally round Rebecca Long-Bailey union-news.co.uk/unions-rall… via @Union_NewsUK
32
214
442
Dany Cotton is being scapegoated for #Grenfell. See my earlier warning.
Those responsible for turning a building into a death trap; for de-regulating and scrapping safety standards get away yet again.
The Establishment knows how to protect the guilty.
theguardian.com/uk-news/2019…
23
276
451
Labour stopped this practice under Corbyn/McDonnell but it’s back. Outrageous that banks & big business get such direct input on policy - it’s about protecting their private interests/profits.
Labour criticised for giving global banks access to parliament theguardian.com/politics/202…
13
296
433
26,886
When he goes - which looks imminent - Johnson will be replaced by a another right-wing, anti-worker, anti-public service, pro-privatisation, agent of the billionaire class.
🚨Downing Street staff drank alcohol into the early hours at two leaving events the night before Prince Philip’s socially-distanced funeral, The Telegraph can reveal.
Read more: telegraph.co.uk/politics/202…
20
90
420
Because he’s a decent,caring and honest human being:
#IAmMichaelDowden
Grenfell Inquiry: Firefighter in tears over tower footage - BBC News bbc.com/news/uk-44614701
12
178
430
‼️ Fascist sympathiser expelled from FBU -now let’s reject division and stand together ‼️
It is very rare for a trade union to expel, or bar from membership, one of its members but that is the step the FBU has had to take... 1/
theguardian.com/uk-news/2024…
22
146
408
52,878
RT
Please share
It’s our centenary - today!
The Fire Brigades Union (then FTU) was registered as an independent trade union ON THIS DAY - 1 October 1918.
We pay tribute to all who went before us.
#Firefighters100
Firemen’s Trade Union (FTU) founded
fbu.org.uk/history/firemen%E…
10
391
401
We need to unite against the far right fascists that seek to intimidate and terrorise members of our class because of their faith and skin colour.
We will not accept this on our streets. We will fight against fascism together today as a united trade union movement.
224
125
386
29,714
I am incredibly pleased and honoured to be elected general secretary of @NASUWT - the teachers’ union.
I will be forever grateful to the national executive for placing their confidence in me and recommending me to members.
70
107
438
41,559
Sick numbskulls who made a video of them burning an effigy of #Grenfell Tower are beneath contempt.
Such cowards will never understand the remarkable solidarity of N. Kensington community or why decent people across the country- indeed the world - support them.
#Justice4Grenfell
13
153
379
The Fire Service - nationally - did not plan or train for mass evacuation.
So the firefighters - all of them - on the night of #Grenfell were placed in an impossible position
#Dispatches
15
147
389
@guardian - like the overwhelming majority of the media - is totally gutted that Labour won in Peterborough.
12
140
351
What a terrible decision.
Climate crisis is …..a crisis. It needs a broad policy response.
This decision also undermines CLPs and their role in labour conference.
🚨 BREAKING: Labour staff & the Conference Arrangements Committee have ruled our Conference motion out of order. 🚨
It’s an anti-democratic move to silence members, making a mockery any commitment to bold climate action.
We’ll be opposing the decision by all means necessary. ✊
8
164
366
People become firefighters because they want to serve their community. Our aim is to resolve this dispute without a strike.
We've given the employers & government 10 days to come up with a decent offer. If they don't, we will cal the first Uk-wide fire strike on pay since 2003
7
121
382
27,555
Firefighters union slams “shameful” plan to scrap fire safety for asylum seeker accomodation fbu.org.uk/news/2023/06/29/f…
27
250
326
131,832
RT
Please share
22 years ago today: On 4 February 1996 we lost our sister Fleur Lombard who died in line of duty in a fire at Staple Hill.
#WeRemember
#StapleHill1996
#FleurLombard
#Firefighters100
16
295
359
Wow
Why would any government NOT want to review performance during and lessons of the floods?
#floods
It’s a shame the @houseofcommons deleted this tweet. We think it’s an accurate reflection of how little this government cares about the threat of flooding, or the hardworking firefighters and other emergency service workers who respond bravely to it.
24
265
353
Fantastic to see local residents supporting their firefighters last night.
#Dispatches
North Kensington residents stood outside the North Kensington #fire station - the first firefighters on the scene at Grenfell Tower are based here - as they wanted “to show solidarity” with fire crews as @C4Dispatches about #Grenfell was broadcast
4
105
353
What an utterly cowardly response from Labour.
It’s an undemocratic piece of legislation - just agree to repeal it.
Labour urged to say whether it would scrap new anti-protest laws theguardian.com/politics/202…
27
141
343
23,588
The so called ‘report’ on fire service response to Covid is a politically motivated attack on firefighters & our union.
It is packed with inaccuracies and falsehoods.
Primary aim is to undermine the Fire Brigades Union & the collective rights of firefighters.
#InspectorStitchUp
6
173
341
This is an incredibly moving scene:
Watch: Incredible moment @LondonFire Brigade fightfighters leaving #GrenfellTower brought to tears as they are clapped out by community.@LBC
8
220
344
Why firefighters are organising to fight for pay:
#FairPayOrFireStrike
#FairPayForAll
tribunemag.co.uk/2022/12/no-…
4
97
286
45,378
Absolutely amazing turnout for our lobby of Scottish Parliament.
Set the bar for @fbunational members everywhere.
7
81
294
Speaking in Dover in support of P&O workers.
The entire trade union movement must mobilise in support.
#Solidarity can win
7
84
304
Firefighters run toward life-threatening danger. But the UK government has pushed even us to our limit theguardian.com/commentisfre…
5
82
280
71,717
#Grenfell inquiry report out this week.
One obvious point is that central government has done nothing serious to address concerns in the 28 months since the fire. Or in the years BEFORE the fire.
Don’t let them scapegoat firefighters.
theguardian.com/uk-news/2019…
16
205
296
RT RT
The Fire Brigades Union is the ONLY fire service organisation to challenge this attack through the courts in this way.
The FBU is the ONLY union at all to follow this challenge and see it through.
Determination and Attention To Detail.
#PensionJustice
12
124
293
Today is Firefighters Memorial Day
#WeRemember the sacrifice of all those of our sisters and brothers who lost their lives protecting their communities.
Fire stations sound sirens for Firefighters Memorial Day 2019 fbu.org.uk/news/2019/05/03/f…
4
187
287
1. Statistical nonsense (&dishonest) to use London salary of a firefighter for comparator with national average earnings (not salary) in wider economy.
2. Inflation has not been caused by wages in public or private sector. Wages generally have stagnated for over a decade.
Matt Wrack(Fire Brigades Union) - "You need to compare apples with apples... get your facts right if you're going to ask questions... " 🔥
#KayBurley #BBCBreakfast
13
114
292
37,431
RT
Firefighters demand no cover up on #GrenfellTower - justice for victims.
Plus - our letter to Prime Minister
fbu.org.uk/news/2017/06/19/f…
15
358
295
"Mike Dowden did not apply flammable cladding to Grenfell Tower. Nor did he make the other alterations which destroyed the fire safety within the building.
"He was simply on duty when the worst fire since World War Two broke out.”
BBC News
bbc.com/news/uk-44634999
14
189
291
What a shocking interview. Is the plan just to sit back and see what the Tories come up with?
Some corporations and individuals have done very well from the past 4 months.
Start by taxing them.
#Marr: Is Labour against tax rises on those earning over £80,000?
Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Rachel Reeves: "We would look at any proposals the government have put forward"
bbc.in/3gNZ1Pg
17
147
297
RT
Please share
Please support us in standing up for safety.
Firefighters have taken on numerous additional roles to support the fight against Covid.
We want to do that safely - for all of us.
#PutSafetyFirst
5
242
281
French firefighters under attack over jobs, pay, pensions. Sounds familiar.
BBC News - French firefighters hit Paris streets in major protest bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-c…
5
216
278
@jeremycorbyn pledges to stop cuts in fire service and immediately to start recruiting 3,000 new firefighters
10
203
258
Greg Hands, Tory chair, has no role in deciding Labour policy; mind your own business.
Your party defended South African apartheid for decades.
You are systematically undermining our democratic rights in the Uk,
Solidarity @ApsanaBegumMP
Solidarity Apsana .
11
107
290
25,162
RT
We stand together with teachers, school staff and for the safety of parents, students and the community.
Please share and support.
#MakeSchoolsSafe
Unions call on Labour to back NEU over schools closures union-news.co.uk/seven-senio… via @Union_NewsUK
15
159
265
Please spare a thought for those at work tomorrow.
Thanks to all firefighters, emergency fire control staff, NHS staff and all those workers who will be away from families & working on Christmas Day and through the holidays.
#HappyChristmas
6
86
281
RT
This was the warning I made about the #Grenfell Tower Inquiry more than 2 years ago.
Don’t let them stitch up firefighters.
Fire chief criticises terms of inquiry into Grenfell Tower blaze theguardian.com/uk-news/2017…
16
234
261
RT RT
#Pensions
Another step forward
Government applied to court of appeal for permission to appeal recent judgement in our favour.
This has been rejected.
They can still make further application to Supreme Court for permission.
Presumably they will since the tax payer pays.
17
216
270
An utterly heartbreaking family story from Grenfell.
However, any suggestion that firefighters were motivated by racism is untrue and unjust. Firefighters put their own lives at risk throughout the fire - to save the lives of others.
We will seek to meet Doreen Lawrence ASAP.
32
82
294
At the very time where focus should be on the injustice of Grenfell, Tony Blair has made comments that minimise it.
His comments are deeply shameful and attempt to avoid any accountability for the deregulation his government brought about and that risked lives.
“Those words are despicable”.
@MattWrack responds on #trevorphillips to Tony Blair’s claim that disasters like Grenfell can’t be completely avoided.
Every single person deserves a safe home. Every single one of the deaths at Grenfell was avoidable.
6
134
267
17,931
Disgraceful.
Solidarity with @NadiaWhittomeMP and well done for speaking out.
#PPE
Labour MP Nadia Whittome sacked as carer for speaking out about PPE shortages mirror.co.uk/news/politics/l…
93
67
266
@ApsanaBegumMP has been a staunch ally of @fbunational during her time in Parliament. Appalled to hear that she has faced a misogynistic campaign in her trigger ballot process. We call on @Keir_Starmer and @UKLabour to intervene & put an end to this abuse. Solidarity Apsana.
6
78
263
