The Fire Brigades Union has issued two new circulars. The first explains why the government missed its own deadline to make its pension proposals for firefighters. The second provides advice on opt outs.
[059MW] Hand off our pensions campaign: government sets deadline then fails to comply with it, January 26, 2012
[061MW] Hands off our pensions: opt out concerns, January 26, 2012
Denise Christie, FBU executive council member for women says applications are open for the FBU’s National Women’s School, 30 March – 1 April 2012 at Wortley Hall, near Sheffield. This is an excellent opportunity to meet other FBU women members, share experiences and plan campaigning activity. The application form and covering letter can be downloaded here
The FBU’s pensions campaign has included the operational requirements of firefighting. A large number of fire authorities currently utilise aerobic capacity as one measure of firefighter fitness. Dr Richard Graveling from the Institute of Occupational Medicine produced this report, Fitness for work: Estimate of the deterioration of the aerobic fitness of firefighters with age, for the FBU. We submitted it as part of our further evidence against the government’s proposals.
Gloucestershire Fire Brigades Union (FBU) have hit out at “cuts by stealth” which will see the loss of nearly one in eight full-time frontline firefighters. It says the cuts will mean longer waits for key firefighting equipment, increasing risk to the public and fire crews themselves.
Under the plans nearly one in eight frontline full-timers will be lost – 24 out of 206 – but the ultimate figure could be considerably more. The fire authority meets to consider the plans on 1st February 2012. Continue reading
The FBU has sent a new pensions bulletin to members, explaining the latest position. This bulletin explains why the government’s pension proposals would be unfair to firefighters and unworkable for the fire and rescue service.
Merseyside fire crews say plans to delay sending fire crews to attend automatic fire alarms in business and commercial premises will leave 290 fires to spread every year. The Fire Brigades Union say the plans are a cut too far and threaten businesses and jobs.
Merseyside fire authority meet tomorrow (19 January) to consider a new policy of not sending fire engines to automatic fire alarms at business and commercial premises. Instead they will wait for someone to confirm there is a fire before sending any fire engines. Continue reading
Claims of sexist bullying and other inappropriate behaviour by senior politicians are being routinely ignored by the body responsible for upholding standards on the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA), a Freedom of Information request has revealed.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has learned that in the last three years, 18 complaints were submitted to the LFEPA standards committee about the conduct of members of the Authority. Continue reading
The Fire Brigades Union have hit back at reports that a petition aimed at saving Cumbria’s 999 Fire Control room has failed. An online e-petition was intended to run along side a more traditional paper petition was submitted without the Unions knowledge to a council meeting last Thursday.
As the online petition had attracted less than 3000 signatures it fell short of the number required to trigger a full council debate. However, the FBU traditional petition has actually attracted over 20,000 signatures and this number is growing daily, more than enough to trigger a debate. Continue reading
This joint union bulletin outlines the Heads of Agreement for the LGPS for England and Wales. Although the majority of other unions were supportive of the Heads of Agreement, the FBU took a different view for the following reasons. Continue reading
The FBU has issued a new circular on the Part-Time Workers Pay and Conditions Settlement, [015AD]. Further information will be provided in due course.
