Assessing the 2002-4 firefighters’ dispute & building trade unionism in the future

ONE-DAY NATIONAL CONFERENCE for trade union activists, academics etc

SATURDAY 10 DECEMBER 2005 Organised by the Manchester Industrial Relations Society Sponsored by Merseyside Brigade Fire Brigades Union The Porter Lecture Theatre, Manchester Metropolitan University, Aytoun St, Central Manchester (opposite the front entrance to Piccadilly Station)

10.00-10.30am Registration & Refreshments

10.30am-11.45am The 2002-4 Firefighters’ Dispute: Assessment of Strategy/Tactics & Outcome

Speakers: Debate between Professor Roger Seifert (Centre for Industrial Relations, University of Keele & co-author of the book United They Stood)& Paul Embery (FBU London Divisional Secretary) followed by an open discussion

Chair: Terry Segars (ex-Essex FBU Brigade Secretary & Executive Council Member)

11.45am-12.45pm 'Modernisation' & the New Management

Speakers: Chris Jones (ex-Merseyside FBU Brigade Chair; Institute of Educational Technology, Open University) & Dave Beale (European Work & Employment Research Centre, University of Manchester) & open discussion

Chair: Ian Fitzgerald (Sustainable Cities Institute, University of Northumbria)

12.45pm-1.45pm

Buffet Lunch (small cover charge requested)

1.45pm.2.45pm The Unions & New Labour

Speakers: Ian Foulkes (North West Region FBU Learning Rep Officer) & Ralph Darlington (University of Salford, Secretary of Manchester Industrial Relations Society & open discussion

2.45pm-3.45pm Building Trade Unionism

Speakers: Matt Wrack (General Secretary, FBU) & Mark Serwotka (General Secretary, PCS Civil Servants Union) & open discussion

Chair: Kevin Brown (Greater Manchester FBU Brigade Secretary)