Premier Morris Iemma is literally playing with fire as he locks horns with this state's firefighters.
Inflation is running well above four percent, and yet the Premier has stubbornly refused to increase a pay offer beyond two and a half percent. What he is demanding is that the people who put their lives on the line in a dangerous job take a pay cut.
He does suggest that there is a way around this impasse - provided the firemen and firewomen are prepared to negotiate away many of the hard earned conditions of their award - and agree to closing a number of fire stations.
Is the Premier suggesting that this state has too many fire stations ?
The firies have dug in for a long battle and they clearly have the public on side.
Those with long memories will recall that this same deal was offered to the transport union manning our trains - and just a week or so before the Catholic Church's World Youth Day ( WYD ) that union suggested that they would hold a strike during that event.
Without firing a shot the state government caved in - and the transport union got it's money - and there was no strike during WYD.
What makes the Premier think the train crews are worth more money - but the firies should agree to a pay cut ?
It's a long way to the next state election and the Premier obviously hopes the firies and the public have short memories. He may find that is a very wrong assumption.
The firies have put together a fighting fund and it is their intention to actively oppose the reelection of this government.
Picking this fight was not one of the Premier's better decisions !
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