2-Fire Strike Diverts British Army from Iraq Thoughts

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, October 20, 2002

2-Fire Strike Diverts British Army from Iraq Thoughts

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Britain's armed forces, on alert for possible war in Iraq, have begun training to replace the country's striking firefighters -- a double headache for Prime Minister Tony Blair as he fights worsening labour problems at home.

Adding to his woes on Saturday was the threat by one of Britain's increasingly militant transport unions to stop work during the strike over fire safety fears.

Blair, who has backed US President George W. Bush's calls for military action against Iraq, could see any war preparation disrupted by the strikes which will suck up scarce military personnel for the rest of the year.

"On Iraq, there has been no decision on any action. It is a matter of the government balancing priorities," a Ministry of Defence spokeswoman told Reuters on Saturday.

About 19,000 armed forces personnel have begun training to cover for the nation's 50,000 firefighters, who on Friday announced strikes over pay -- the first such action in 25 years.

Bob Crow, leader of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union, told the Observer newspaper that his members would not run trains during the strikes as safety could not be guaranteed.

"They (the soldiers) have not got the experience of getting people out of tunnels and trains," he was quoted as saying. "All the safety representatives we have spoken to say it is unsafe."

London Underground, which operates the capital's heavily-used "Tube", has said it will close several stations.

The civil deployment will take up a significant chunk of Britain's 210,000-strong forces, already stretched thin by recruitment problems and operations around the world.

"Soldiers, when you bear in mind that they are preparing for possible war in Iraq and the operations around the world, I shouldn't think they are too chuffed to be called on for this, to be honest," retired Brigadier Alex Birtwistle, an army civil emergency expert, told the BBC on Saturday.

The Fire Brigades' Union, demanding pay rises of 40 percent to take the average salary to 30,000 pounds ($46,500), said its members voted by a margin of nine to one to hold six nationwide strikes, beginning in late October and running into December.

They are only the latest trade union to provide a headache for Blair and his Labour government. Teachers, nurses, postal workers, local government staff and rail workers have all either threatened or taken industrial action this year.

Firefighters in general have enjoyed huge public popularity since September 11, when many US firefighters lost their lives in the World Trade Center collapse. But Britain's firefighters are angered by any suggestion they are cashing in on sympathy.

Source; agencies

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