ALOT off topic this...

[Davey Willo]

Anyone who is willing to risk their lives daily to save others is worth far more than any skilled worker. Lifeboat men, Rescue pilots, Firefighters anyone who can die and do die to help save any one of us or our relatives or our friends should not be struggling to survive financially full stop.

[Lou]

Don't dispute it.  Just questioned where the line for "struggling financially" is.  Also questioned whether a fair solution would be to have that linked to local cost of living rather than the same rate across the board.  That would let the same money go to those who need it most, rather than providing a higher standard of living to some than others.  Don't you agree?

[andy2tanx]

Perhaps it would be fairer for house prices to be regulated across the board.  Stop the fat cat bar stewards in the south from making massive money out of the housing market.  Fair?

[andy2tanx]

And another thing, (soapbox mode) what IS a fair wage to give someone who is expected to put their life on the line?  Putting aside all the struggling financially and housing cost problems, I earn £250 per week net.  Is that fair?

[Ammers]

It's even more insane when you consider that you have to do 15 hour shifts and add up the amount of hours you do per week. Work out your hourly rate - that's apparently deemed appropriate for saving lives. Madness!

[Davey Willo]

On the plus side, you get to drive thru the streets like a furkin madman in a big red fire truck..... now that must be worth a few quid a week just in the fun value.....  :biggrin:

[Jay]

And you've got a lovely big shiny red helmet! (And yes, I've signed it too matey)

[Eddie]

worth every penny Andy lad! hope you get it, at the end of the day it all boils down to the fact that you put your life on the line to save other peoples lives and possessions!

[Paxo]

Had to sign it for you.
Without going into semantics or pedantics, my girlfriends father was a "Fire Bobby" for many years and the lad I'll be diving with in WA was  based at Slaithwaite FS, and has now joined up again in Kalgoorlie.
Both of them had an off-duty job to supplement their income.
(But why on earth would a fireman have a window cleaning round, don't they see enough bloody ladders?)

The girlfriend works for West Yorks Police, and through her have met many serving officers, heard their tales and worked out for myself their wage to risk/effort ratio compared to that of a serving fireman.
Th'at's of to yer, 2Tanx. Tha's getten bigger nuts ner I, ter do tha job!

[andy2tanx]

Thanks for the support.  it has just occurred to me that maybe the gov't don't like the fire service 'cos we pulled the opposition out of the Grand hotel in Brighton back in the '80s.  Good theory eh?