Member Services: Rule Book 2008

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RULE BOOK 2008

Foreword

THE IMMEDIATE AIMS of the Fire Brigades Union are to serve its
members by winning for them the best possible conditions, and to serve the community by encouraging its members to be skilled at their craft.

THE FIRE BRIGADES UNION recognises that workers, however employed, can only improve their lot by their own endeavours and organisation. A richer and fuller life can be achieved only by similar means.

TO THIS END the Fire Brigades Union is part of the working-class
movement and, linking itself with the international trade union and labour movement, has as its ultimate aim the bringing about of the Socialist system of society.

Rule 1
TITLE
The Union shall be called and known by the name of: "The Fire Brigades Union"

Rule 2
REGISTERED OFFICE
The registered office place of meeting for the business of the Union shall be at: 68 Coombe Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 7AE.

Rule 3
OBJECTS OF THE UNION
(1) To organise all those employed under the National Joint Council
Scheme of Conditions of Service for Local Authorities Fire and Rescue Services and such other categories of employees as determined by the Executive Council.

(2) To secure unity of action in order to improve the position and status of members and the service and secure that the numbers of uniformed employees of fire brigades, members of the Union and appropriate post holders within the Union, are as far as reasonably practicable, representative of gender and ethnic minorities and sexual orientation.

(3) To settle and negotiate differences and disputes between members of the Union in matters relating to their Fire Service employment, with employers, Trade Unions, or other persons.

(4) To liaise and engage with the United Kingdom Government, devolved administrations and all other levels of government on public services and related matters, for the purposes of promoting and monitoring legislation for the benefit of members of the Union and the public we serve.

(5) To secure that only members of this Union are employed in roles covered by the National Joint Council Scheme of Conditions of Service for Local Authorities Fire and Rescue Services.

(6) To aid and join with other trade unions or societies having objects similar to any of the objects of this Union.

(7) To provide legal assistance to members when matters relating to their employment in the Fire Service or affecting their interests as employees in the Fire Service are involved.

(8) To further:

(i) political objectives as defined in Section 72 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, as amended; and

(ii) such other political objectives as the Executive Council may determine from time to time which in its opinion are consistent with the Union’s other objectives.

(9) To administer from the general funds of the Union such benefit or welfare funds as may be instituted from time to time by the Executive Council in the interests of the members of the Union or of any section of the members of the Union.

(10) To administer any scheme or fund which the Executive Council may set up from time to time.

(11) Where possible it be the policy of the Fire Brigades Union not to conduct business with any organisations or in premises of said organisations where such organisations are unsympathetic to the Labour and Trade Union Movement.

Rule 4
CATEGORIES OF MEMBERSHIP
The Union shall consist of members in the following categories:

(a) Members employed by Local Authority Fire Brigades under NJC Conditions of Service, other categories of employees determined by the Executive Council and elected Full Time Officials who shall be known as “Ordinary Members”.

(b) Ordinary Members ceasing to be employed by Local Authority Fire Brigades or the FBU in accordance with Rule 4 (a), who desire to continue membership, who shall be known as "Out of Trade Members".

(c) Members awarded Honorary membership of the FBU in accordance with Rule 5 (3) who shall be known as "Honorary Members".

(d) Junior Firefighters employed by Local Authority Fire Brigades who shall be known as "junior members".

Any reference to the word "member" in these Rules shall mean "ordinary member" unless otherwise specified.

Rule 5
CONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP AND CONTRIBUTIONS
(1) Ordinary Members

(a) Every person wishing to join the Union shall be proposed by one and seconded by another member of the Union.

The names of new members shall be reported to the next meeting of the Brigade Committee concerned.

(b) Any former FBU member wishing to rejoin the Union shall have his/her application considered by the Branch concerned and then forwarded to the Brigade Committee.

(i) In the case of any former member expelled from the Union in accordance with Rule 26, the Brigade Committee shall consider the application with the recommendation of the Branch concerned. The Brigade Committee shall then forward the application to the Executive Council with any recommendation. The Executive Council shall decide whether the application shall be accepted. The re-entry fee shall be 50 per cent of the weekly rate of pay of a firefighter (competent).

(ii) In all other cases, the Brigade Committee shall decide whether the application shall be accepted and whether to set any re-entry fee which shall not exceed 25 per cent of the weekly rate of pay of a firefighter (competent).

(c) The application cards of persons accepted into membership in accordance with this Rule shall be forwarded to the Brigade Membership Secretary and then by him/her to the Head Office of the Union.

(d) The Union shall not knowingly and actively seek to take into membership present or recent members of another Union, without the agreement of that organisation.

(e) A person improperly enrolled in the Union may be excluded from membership by the Executive Council.

(f) The weekly contribution of ordinary members shall be:

Full time members shall contribute 1 per cent of the Firefighter (competent) rate of pay. Job share members shall contribute half of 1 per cent of a Firefighter (competent) weekly rate of pay. Retained members shall contribute one third of the trade contribution of full time members, plus 3 per cent of the trade contribution of Wholetime members rounded to the nearest penny. Volunteer members shall contribute annually a flat rate fee as set by the Executive Council.

Where members pay by the calendar month the contribution amount payable shall be circulated from the weekly contribution rates.

(g)In Northern Ireland these rates shall be 97 per cent of the
contribution specified in Rule 5 (1) (f), rounded to the nearest
penny. Members in N. Ireland who agree to contribute to the
political fund as provided in Rules 31 and 32 shall pay a levy in
accordance with Rule 32.

(h) A member who wishes to resign from the Union must do so by written notice to the Brigade Membership Secretary and cancel any future payments. The resignation taking immediate effect from the date of receipt.

(2) Out of Trade Members
(a) Members desiring to become "Out of Trade Members" in accordance with Rule 4 (b) shall be eligible to continue Union membership by completing an application form and forwarding it to Head Office not later than 180 days from the cessation of employment in accordance with Rule 4 (b).

(b) The contribution of Out of Trade Members shall be £25 per five years.

(c) Such members will be entitled to receive assistance under Rules 3(3) and 3(7).

(d) Out of Trade Members shall neither hold office nor have voting rights.

(3) Honorary Members
Honorary membership may be awarded at the discretion of Annual Conference and/or the Executive Council from amongst persons ineligible for ordinary membership. A Regional Committee may nominate persons for this honour.
Honorary membership may be awarded for outstanding service rendered to the Union and/or to the Fire Service.
Honorary members shall neither hold office nor having voting rights.

(4) Junior Members
(a) The Executive Council shall have power to provide for the enrolment of junior firefighters (over 16 years of age) into the Union. Such members shall not be eligible for benefit under Rule 30 neither shall they be members of the Union's Political Fund. For the purpose of all other benefits under these rules, junior members shall be regarded as "ordinary members".

(b) Junior members shall contribute one-third of the trade contributions of full time members. Junior members shall become "ordinary members" and pay the full Union subscription on reaching the age of 18 years.
Where junior members pay by the calendar month the contribution amount payable shall be calculated from the weekly contribution rates.

(5) Career Breaks
Members on recognised career breaks shall neither hold office nor have voting rights.

(6) Payment of Contributions
A member shall pay his/her contributions to the Union by either:-

(i) deduction from salary at source. or

(ii) Direct Debit.

(7) Each member shall be issued with a membership card and a copy of the Union Rules.

(8) Any member, except those covered in Rule 5 (9), who permits his/her contributions to fall three or more calendar months in arrears shall forfeit all rights and title to the funds and properties of the Union, and the right to vote in any Union election or ballot. Following consultation with the Brigade Membership Secretary the Union will notify him/her that unless his/her arrears are cleared within 3 calendar months, his/her name will be erased from the membership of the Union.

(9) A member not in receipt of full pay whilst sick, injured, or on maternity leave shall be exempt from payment of contributions for such period as he/she is not in receipt of full pay.

(10) A member who is on a recognised career break will be exempt from payment of contributions for the first 12 months. Each year thereafter the member will be required to pay a contribution of £25 per Annum, or part thereof. For the purpose of this Rule a recognised career break is accepted as an agreed break from work, which lasts up to 5 years maximum.

Rule 6
CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION

(1) The foundation of the Union’s democratic structure shall be the
organisation and representation of all members at their place of work, uniting them in workplace Branches in pursuit of common aims. The organisation of members at their workplace Branch shall be constituted in accordance with Rule 23. In order to build upon this
workplace foundation, Branches shall be collectively organised through the establishment of Brigade Committees constituted in accordance with Rule 21.

(2) For the government of the Union there shall be an Annual Conference and for the general administration of the Union between Annual Conferences there shall be an Executive Council.

In order to provide the fullest opportunities for the democratic
administration of the Union, the membership shall be divided into 13
Regions as follows:-

(1) Scotland
(2) Northern Ireland
(3) North-Eastern Region
(4) Yorkshire and Humberside Region
(5) North-Western Region
(6) East Midlands Region
(7) West Midlands Region
(8) Wales
(9) Eastern-East Anglia Region
(10) London Region
(11) South-Eastern Region
(12) Southern Region
(13) South-Western Region

The territory included in each Region is set out in the appendix. Only
Annual Conference shall have the power to vary the boundaries of the Regions as it may deem desirable.

(3) To assist in the organisation of our membership and for the better administration of those affairs specific to particular members, and to assist the Executive Council to develop strategies designed to ensure Fairness at Work pursuant to Rule 8 (6)(e) there shall be the following Committees, each of which shall be directly responsible to the Executive Council.

(i) A Black and Ethnic Minority Members National Committee.
(ii) A Control Staff National Committee.
(iii) A National Gay and Lesbian Committee.
(iv) An Officers’ National Committee.
(v) A National Retained Committee.
(vi) A National Womens’ Committee.

Rule 7
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
(1) The supreme government of the Union shall be vested in the annual Conference, and/or recall conferences and the decision of which shall be binding on all members.

(2) Delegates to annual conference shall be elected according to the membership of the Brigade as in June of the year preceding that in which the Conference is to be held.

Delegates entitlement shall be calculated at the rate of one delegate per 275 members or part thereof. There shall be a minimum of two delegates from each Brigade. The method of election of delegates shall be decided upon by the Brigade Committee.

(3) Members of the Executive Council shall attend Annual Conference by virtue of their office only and shall be allowed to speak when so nominated to do so on behalf of the Executive Council, but shall not be eligible to vote.

(4) Full-time Officials of the Union shall attend Annual Conference by virtue of their office only and shall be allowed to speak when so nominated to do so on behalf of the Executive Council, but shall not be eligible to vote.

(5) The Executive Council shall have the power to nominate further delegates to represent categories of the membership whom it shall deem to be insufficiently represented at the Conference. These delegates shall have the right to speak on matters of concern to their particular membership grouping.

(6) To assist conference to discharge its business, conference shall establish a Standing Orders Committee which shall consist of six members.

Two of these members shall be appointed by the Executive Council and the other four elected from the delegates to annual conference.

This Committee shall appoint one of the four members elected by Conference to be the chair. The members of the Standing Orders Committee elected from the delegates to annual conference will serve for four annual conferences. One member will retire at each conference and will be eligible for re-election for a further period of four annual conferences.

(7) The Standing Orders Committee shall, in consultation with the
Executive Council, make the necessary arrangements for the holding
of annual conference and publish details to the membership, including the procedure to be followed by the Brigade Committees and National Sectional Committees in submitting resolutions and amendments to rules.

(8) The Standing Orders Committee shall prepare the agenda of the conference and submit reports on the order of business from time to time during the conference.

(9) The quorum for the Standing Orders Committee shall be 50 per cent of the members of the committee elected by the delegates to annual conference.

Rule 8
CONSTITUTION AND POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
(1) The management of the Union shall be vested in the Executive Council which shall consist of one representative from each Region enumerated in Rule 6. In addition, there shall be elected every four years in accordance with Rule 19 (3), one Officers representative (Rule 19 (3)(b)), one Control Staff representative (Rule 19 (3)(c)), one Retained members representative (Rule 19 (3)(d)) and in order to further the Rule 3 (2) Objects of the Union, one Women members representative (Rule 19 (3)(e)), one Black and Ethnic Minority members representative (Rule 19 (3)(f)) and one Gay and Lesbian members representative (Rule 19 (3)(g)).

(2) The President shall preside at the meetings of the Executive Council.

The Vice-President shall be a member of the Executive Council and shall preside in the absence of the President.

The National Treasurer shall be a member of the Executive Council.

The General Secretary and Assistant General Secretary shall attend in an advisory capacity.

Ten voting members shall form a quorum.

(3) Executive Council members shall hold office for four years. Retiring members are eligible for re-election.

(4) The Executive Council shall meet not less often than once every three months.

(5) Any member who fails to attend a meeting without offering a
satisfactory reason may be removed from office. In the event of the
enforced absence of a member either through prolonged illness,
removal from office, prolonged family care leave or when the Executive Council post is vacant awaiting election, the Executive Council will appoint a Regional Official, who has been nominated by the Regional Committee from the affected Region, to act in place of that member. This Regional Official shall be afforded full voting rights at the meetings of the Executive Council. In the case of members elected pursuant to Rules 19 (3)(b) – (g), the Executive Council will appoint the Chair or Secretary, who has been nominated by the relevant National Committee.

(6) The Executive Council shall, subject to these rules and to the decision of Annual Conference, have full power and authority to take such action as it deems necessary for the conduct of the Union’s affairs and the realisation of the objects set out in Rule 3. The Executive Council shall have the following powers that shall not in any way limit its powers as set out above.

(a) To determine the salaries of all the full time employees of the
Union and to administer arrangements for pension, retirement
and kindred benefits for these employees.

(b) To make levies on members to keep the funds in a solvent
condition.

(c) To make grants or loans to kindred organisations and parties
connected with the trade union movement and, in exceptional
circumstances for services rendered.

(d) To set up where necessary committees to deal with the special
problems or business or special categories of the membership
and to delegate to these committees such of its powers as it
thinks fit, with the exception of the power to dismiss Officials.

(e) To develop strategies designed to ensure fairness at work, health
and safety procedures and educational opportunities. To this end
the Executive Council will maintain a Fairness at Work Advisory
Committee consisting of representatives of the Executive Council and the Regional Fairness at Work Officers. The Executive Council will also ensure that not less than once per year, national meetings of Regional Fairness at Work Officers, Regional Health and Safety Co-ordinators and Regional Education Officers shall take place.

(7) Any member of the Executive Council may attend any lower committee of the Union "ex-officio".

Rule 8A
INTERNAL UNION DISCIPLINE:
HONORARY OFFICIALS OTHER THAN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS
(1) (a) The following procedure shall apply in relation to the following honorary Officials, namely Branch Officials and committee members, Divisional Officials and committee members, Brigade Officials and committee members, Regional Officials and committee members and the Officials and members of the six National Committees of the Union as per Rule 6 (2).

(b) For the avoidance of doubt:

(i) this Rule applies to any substitute, deputy or acting Official or committee member, or former Officials committing an alleged offence when serving as an Official;

(ii) action may be taken simultaneously under this Rule against every member of a committee.

(2) (a) If the Executive Council member for a Region believes (which belief he/she may form after conducting a preliminary inquiry) that an honorary Official as specified above when holding office in that Region (the defendant) committed an offence contrary to Rule 26(1), he/she

(i) may suspend the defendant from all or any office whether currently held or not in the Union;

(ii) shall as soon as practicable send a written complaint to the General Secretary setting out details of the defendant’s conduct and reporting any action taken to suspend the defendant.

(b) If a defendant is suspended under Rule 8A (2)(a)(i) he/she shall be ineligible to stand for election to any post within the Union pending the outcome of proceedings under this Rule.

(c) If an Executive Council member suspends a defendant he/she may take such steps as he/she considers necessary to ensure the good management of the Union pending the outcome of proceedings under this Rule.

(d) Should the election for an office from which the defendant has been suspended fall due during the period of suspension then that election shall also be suspended pending the outcome of proceedings under this Rule, as shall the election for any other office which the defendant is, or would be, but for the operation of this Rule, eligible to stand.

(e) A defendant suspended under this Rule shall not attend or call meetings of the Union or represent the Union in any capacity as the holder of the office(s) from which he/she is suspended but may continue to receive such honoraria and allowances and such Union papers marked "for information only" as he/she would have received but for his/her suspension.

(3) Upon receipt of a complaint under paragraph (2) above the General Secretary shall convene a meeting (which may be an ordinary meeting) of the Executive Council in accordance with Rule 26(5) for the purpose of a hearing to consider the complaint. In addition to the matters referred to in that Rule the notice of the meeting sent to the defendant shall also inform him/her that the proceedings may lead to him/her being permanently debarred from office in the Union.

(a) If on receipt of a report from the Executive Council Member for a Region following a preliminary enquiry, where an Official has pleaded guilty to a minor misdemeanour, where a reprimand would be deemed a reasonable punishment, the General Secretary can instruct the Executive Council Member to issue that reprimand without the matter having to be brought before the full Executive Council.

(4) (a) Save as appears below the hearing shall be conducted in accordance with Rule 26(6).

(b) The complainant shall be the Executive Council member who made the complaint.

(c) The Executive Council shall consider firstly the disciplinary complaint against the defendant and shall make a resolution in accordance with Rule 26(3)(e)(i) or (ii). The penalties available are those set out in Rule 26(3)(f).

(d) Thereafter, if the defendant was subject to suspension under Rule 8A (2)(a)(i) the Executive Council shall resolve to:

(i) reinstate the defendant to office forthwith otherwise terminate any suspension under Rule 8A (2)(a)(i); or

(ii) debar him/her from holding office for a specified period; or

(iii) debar him/her from holding office permanently.
For the avoidance of doubt, if a resolution is passed reinstating a defendant to office, the term of that office will expire on the same date as if the suspension had not occurred.

(e) As soon as is practicable, the General Secretary shall notify the defendant in writing of the resolution of the Executive Council and of any right of appeal.

(f) Any Official who is found guilty of an offence under Rule 26 (1)
(d), and who is not expelled may be barred from holding Union Office at any level.

(5) (a) There shall be a right of appeal from the Executive Council to the Final Appeals Committee, save in the case of a Regional Official, and the Officials of the six National Committees of the Union, as per Rule 6(2), when the right of appeal shall be to Annual Conference if the Executive Council has expelled the defendant from membership of the Union or debarred him/her from holding office for a specified period or permanently.

(b) Where the appeal lies to the Final Appeals Committee, the procedure set out in Rule 26(4) shall apply.

(c)

(i) Where the appeal lies to Annual Conference, the appeal shall be considered at the meeting (which may be an ordinary meeting or especially recalled for this purpose at the discretion of the General Secretary) of the Annual Conference immediately subsequent to the meeting of the Executive Council which made the resolution against which the appeal lies;

(ii) the defendant shall submit a Notice of Appeal to the General Secretary in accordance with Rule 26(4)(c)(ii) to (iv);

(iii) upon receipt of a Notice of Appeal the General Secretary shall circulate to delegates to Annual Conference at least seven days before the start of Conference (unless it is impractical to do so and then at the earliest opportunity) a copy of the defendant’s Notice of Appeal and a copy of the relevant part of the Executive Council minutes;

(iv) at the meeting of Annual Conference the defendant (or his/her representative) shall be afforded an opportunity to address the Conference, immediately after which without debate the President shall put the Notice of Appeal to the vote either as a whole or in parts at his/her discretion. The Annual Conference may uphold or dismiss the appeal and may not substitute its own decision for that of the Executive Council. The decision of Annual Conference shall be final.

(6) Any resolution of the Executive Council that may be the subject of an appeal shall not take effect until either the time limit for appeal has expired and no appeal has been entered or the appeal has been dismissed. In all other cases, any decision of the Executive Council shall have immediate effect. If the defendant was subject to suspension at the time of the Executive Council hearing, that suspension shall continue until the resolution of the Executive Council or of any appeal takes effect.

(7) The defendant has the right to representation under this Rule as set out in Rule 26(7). For the avoidance of doubt, at any hearing before Annual Conference, only one address to Conference by either the defendant or his/her representative shall be allowed.

(8) Nothing in this Rule shall prevent a member of the Union instituting disciplinary proceedings against an honorary Official under Rule 26 unless proceedings under this Rule have already commenced in which case no proceedings may be brought under Rule 26 pending the outcome of proceedings under this Rule.

(9) Where the post of Executive Council member is vacant, or the member is absent on long-term sickness leave, overseas, or for any other reason is not readily contactable, the General Secretary, or another Executive Council member or Full Time Official nominated by the General Secretary, may act as if he/she were the Executive Council member for the Region concerned under this Rule and all references to the Executive Council member shall be taken as referring to the member or Official acting under this paragraph.

(10) (a) Where both (i) and (ii) below apply, the procedure at (b) shall operate.

(i) The General Secretary has received a complaint or information that an Honorary Official as specified in Rule 8A (1)(a) has or may have committed an offence contrary to Rule 26.

(ii) The Executive Council member for the Region has been notified of the complaint or provided the information but has not sent a complaint under Rule 8A (2)(ii).

(b) The General Secretary, or another Executive Council member or Full Time Official nominated by the General Secretary, may then act as if he/she were the Executive Council member for the Region concerned under this Rule and all references to the Executive Council member shall be taken as referring to the member or Official acting under this paragraph.

Rule 8B
INTERNAL UNION DISCIPLINE:
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS, PRESIDENT AND FULL TIME OFFICIALS

(1) (a) If the Vice-President believes (which belief he/she may form after conducting a preliminary inquiry) that an Executive Council member, the President, or a Full Time Official (the defendant) has committed an offence contrary to Rule 26(1), he/she:

(i) may suspend the defendant from all or any office or position he/she holds in the Union;

(ii) shall as soon as practicable send a written complaint to the General Secretary setting out details of the defendant’s conduct and action taken to suspend the defendant.

(b) If a defendant is suspended from office he/she shall be ineligible to stand for election to any post within the Union pending the outcome of proceedings under this Rule.

(c) If the Vice-President suspends a defendant, he/she may take such steps as he/she considers necessary to ensure the good management of the Union pending the outcome of proceedings under this Rule.

(d) If a Full Time Official is suspended under this Rule, that suspension shall be on full pay.

(e) Should the election for an office from which the defendant has been suspended fall due during the period of suspension then that election shall also be suspended pending the outcome of proceedings under this Rule, as shall the election for any other office for which the defendant is, or would be, but for the operation of this Rule, eligible to stand.

(f) A defendant suspended under this Rule shall not attend or call meetings of the Union or represent the Union in any capacity as an Executive Council member or Full Time Official but may continue to receive such honoraria and allowances and such Union papers marked "for information only" as he/she would have received but for his/her suspension.

(2) (a) Upon receipt of a complaint under (1) above the General Secretary shall convene a meeting (which may be an ordinary meeting) of the Executive Council to take place within 48 hours of the receipt of the complaint by him/her for the sole purpose of giving a report of the complaint and of the reasons for any suspension to the Executive Council.

(b) Thereafter the General Secretary shall convene a meeting (which may be an ordinary meeting) of the Executive Council in accordance with Rule 26(5) which shall commence within 28 days of the conclusion of the meeting referred to at (2)(a) above for the purpose of a hearing to consider the complaint. In addition to the matters referred to in Rule 26(5) the notice of the meeting sent to the defendant shall also inform him/her that the proceedings may lead to him/her being permanently debarred from office in the Union. If the defendant is a Full Time Official the notice of the meeting sent to him/her shall also inform him/her that the proceedings may lead to his/her dismissal from the Union’s employment.

(3) (a) Save as appears below the hearing shall be in accordance with Rule 26(6).

(b) The complainant shall be the Vice-President.

(c) The Executive Council shall consider firstly the disciplinary complaint against the defendant and shall make a resolution in accordance with Rule 26(3)(e)(i) or (ii).
The penalties available to the Executive Council shall be, in all cases:

(i) a reprimand;

(ii) a fine not exceeding 40 per cent of a firefighter’s (competent) weekly rate of pay;

(iii) to expel the defendant from membership of the Union;
and additionally

(iv) in the case of a Full Time Official, dismissal, which penalty may be imposed in addition to (iii) above.

(d) Thereafter, if the defendant was subject to suspension from office, the Executive Council shall resolve to:

(i) reinstate the defendant to office forthwith; or

(ii) except in the case of a Full Time Official, debar him/her from holding office for a specified period; or

(iii) debar him/her from holding office permanently.

(4) (a) There shall be a right of appeal from the Executive Council to Annual Conference when the Executive Council has expelled the defendant from membership of the Union or debarred him/her from holding office for a specified period or permanently, or in the case of a Full Time Official, dismissed him/her.

(b) The procedure for an appeal to Annual Conference shall be in accordance with Rule 8A(5)(c).

(c) Any Official, as defined by Rule 8B, who is found guilty of an offence under Rule 26 (1) (d), and who is not expelled, may be barred from holding Union office at any level.

(5) For the avoidance of doubt:

(i) a decision to reinstate a Full Time Official either under (3) above or on appeal shall have the effect of entitling him/her to continuity of employment, pension rights, back pay, and any other emoluments to which he/she would have been entitled under his/her Contract of Employment as if he/she had never been dismissed.

(ii) a decision to reinstate any defendant to office shall not affect the term of office which shall expire on the same date as if the suspension had not occurred.

(6) For the avoidance of doubt if the complaint lies against the Vice-President then references above to the Vice-President shall be taken as National Treasurer and if the complaint lies against the General Secretary then references above to the General Secretary shall be taken as Assistant General Secretary.

(7) Any resolution under this Rule shall take effect at the same time as provided by Rule 8A(6), save that any decision of the Executive Council to dismiss a Full Time Official shall have immediate effect.

(8) The defendant has the right to representation under this Rule as set out in Rule 26(7), save that if the defendant is a Full Time Official he/she may be represented by a Full Time Official if that Official is willing to act as his/her representative.

(9) Nothing in this Rule shall prevent a member of the Union instituting disciplinary proceedings against an Executive Council member or Full Time Official under Rule 26 unless proceedings under this Rule have already commenced in which case no proceedings may be brought under Rule 26 pending the outcome of proceedings under this Rule.

Rule 9
ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
(1) Candidates for election to the Executive Council must at the time of nomination and election have a minimum of two years’ continuous membership and be fully paid up members.

(2) Members of the Executive Council shall hold office for four years on the basis of quadrennial elections. The quadrennial elections shall take place without regard to casual vacancies. Where and whenever it is practically possible to do so, election procedures shall be instituted three months prior to retirement of an Executive Council member. Retiring members shall be eligible for re-election.

(3) The procedure for election shall be in accordance with Rule 19.

Rule 10
PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT
(1) The President shall preside at Annual and National Conferences of the Union, at meetings of the Executive Council and at other meetings of the Union as directed by the Executive Council. By virtue of his/her office he/she shall have the right to attend and preside at any meetings of the Union. He/she shall carry out such further functions and duties as are assigned to him/her by the Executive Council.

(2) In the absence of the President the Vice-President shall act with the authority of this Rule. The Vice-President shall also discharge such functions and duties as are assigned to him/her by the Executive Council.

Rule 11
ELECTION OF PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT
The President and Vice-President shall be elected every four years in accordance with the procedures laid down in Rule 19. Candidates at the time of nomination and election must be fully paid up members and have at least five years’ continuous membership. They must have served for not less than two consecutive years on the Executive Council. Retiring holders of offices shall be eligible for re-election.

Only serving members of the Executive Council shall be eligible for nomination and election to the position of Vice-President. On election, the Vice-President will continue to serve as an Executive Council member and will be subject, on the expiry of his/her normal Executive Council term of office, to re-election to the Executive Council, under the procedures laid down in Rule 19.

Should he/she then fail to be re-elected as an Executive Council member, his/her term of office as Vice-President will terminate automatically.

Rule 12
THE NATIONAL TREASURER
The National Treasurer shall be elected every four years in accordance with the procedures laid down in Rule 19. Candidates at the time of nomination and election must be fully paid up members and have at least five years’ continuous membership. They must have served not less than two consecutive years on the Executive Council. Retiring holders of the office shall be eligible for re-election.
Only serving members of the Executive Council shall be eligible for nomination and election to the position of National Treasurer. On election, the National Treasurer will continue to serve as an Executive Council member and will be subject on the expiry of his/her normal Executive Council term of office to re-election to the Executive Council, under the procedures laid down in Rule 19.
Should he/she then fail to be re-elected as an Executive Council member, his/her term of office as National Treasurer will terminate automatically.

(1) It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to see that the money paid to the General Secretary for the benefit of the Union is banked from time to time to the credit of the Union.

(2) He/she shall inspect the bank books and such other books as he/she may desire to see at any time during office hours to satisfy himself/herself that the Rules relating to finance are being carried out.

(3) He/she shall render such assistance to the auditors as they deem necessary.

(4) He/she shall attend all meetings as required by these Rules.

(5) He/she shall, with the General Secretary, present to Annual Conference the annual financial statement, and an interim statement
to each ordinary meeting of the Executive Council.

Rule 13
THE GENERAL SECRETARY
(1) The General Secretary shall conduct the business of the Union in accordance with the Rules and act under the instructions of the Executive Council.

(2) He/she shall devote his/her whole time to the service of the Union, unless the Executive Council shall otherwise determine.

(3) He/she shall keep a register of members and enter therein their names, dates of admission, addresses and contributions paid and shall keep the same in good order.

(4) He/she shall attend all meetings of the Executive Council and shall take, or cause to be taken, minutes of the business thereat transacted, the resolutions proposed and the votes given.

(5) He/she shall be responsible for the finance of the Union and shall receive a receipt of all monies paid to the Union and bank the same to the credit of the Union in the Union’s bank. He/she shall give a receipt or receive a receipt of all monies received or paid respectively. Together with the Treasurer he/she shall issue a financial statement to every quarterly meeting of the Executive Council.

(6) He/she shall, together with the Treasurer, every 12 months draw up a full report of the income and expenditure of the Union for the past year from the 1 January to the 31 December which shall be audited by incorporated auditors engaged by the Executive Council.

(7) He/she shall present to the Executive Council, prior to Annual Conference, a report of the work of the Union and of the attendance of members of the Executive Council since the previous Annual Conference for approval by the Executive Council. After such approval the report shall be presented to Annual Conference as the report of the Executive Council.

Rule 14
ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY AND NATIONAL OFFICERS
The Assistant General Secretary shall assist the General Secretary in his/her duties and act in his/her absence under the authority of Rule 13. In order further to assist the General Secretary in the discharge of his/her duties there shall be elected four National Officers. The Assistant General Secretary and National Officers shall act under the directions of the General Secretary in accordance with the policy of the Executive Council and these Rules.

Rule 15
ELECTION OF GENERAL SECRETARY, ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY AND NATIONAL OFFICERS
Those holding office in these positions shall do so for five years, after which period they shall be eligible for re-election. Candidates shall, at the time of nomination and election, be fully paid up members and have at least five years’ continuous membership. Elections for these positions shall be in accordance with Rule 19.

Holders of these posts may be required by the Executive Council to relinquish their positions on reaching the age of 60 years. Where the 60th birthday of any full-time office holder falls within five years of the date when he/she would normally be due for re-election, his/her period of office may be extended by the Executive Council until he/she reaches retirement age.

Where and whenever it is practically possible to do so, election procedures shall be instituted three months prior to retirement of any Official to whom this Rule applies.

Rule 16
THE AUDITORS
(1) The General Secretary’s annual financial statement and the accounts of the Union shall be audited by incorporated auditors engaged by the Executive Council.

(2) They shall have access to all books and papers necessary for the fulfilment of their duties and shall have such assistance from the Officers and Executive Council as they may require.

Rule 17
THE TRUSTEES
(1) Two Trustees elected by Annual Conference shall invest the funds of the Union as directed. Investments shall be made in freehold or leasehold property, in organisations associated with or supporting the Labour movement, or in any investment in which the Trustees are for the time being authorised by law to invest trust funds. All investments and deposits shall be in the name of the Trustees. The Trustees shall be the persons to sue and be sued on behalf of the Union.

(2) They shall when instructed by the Executive Council authorise withdrawals from the bank deposit account.

(3) The Trustees shall have the power to examine the accounts of the Union.

(4) The Trustees shall perform such functions and assume such responsibilities in connection with their office as are assigned to them under the Trade Union Act.

(5) In the event that between Annual Conferences one or more of the Trustees wishes to retire or, in the opinion of the Executive Council, is unfit to continue acting as a Trustee, whether for medical or other reasons, those Trustees may be retired by the Executive Council who shall then appoint replacements. Unless themselves retired by the Executive Council under this Rule, such replacements shall serve until the next Annual Conference when their continuation or replacement shall be determined by Conference.

Rule 18
REGIONAL OFFICIALS
(1) In each Region there shall be elected in accordance with Rule 19, a Regional Chair, a Regional Secretary, a Regional Treasurer and a Regional Official each of whom shall hold office for four years. In each Section referred to in Rule 22, a National Sectional Chair and a National Sectional Secretary each of whom shall hold office for four years. Where and whenever it is practically possible to do so, election procedures shall be instituted three months prior to the retirement of any Official to whom Rule 18 (1) and Rule 18 (5) applies. These Officials shall, through the Executive Council members for their Region or section, be responsible to the Executive Council for ensuring that their respective Regional/Sectional Committees discharge their obligations under these Rules.

(2) The duties of the Regional/Sectional Chair shall, apart from his/her general duties referred to above, be to preside at all meetings of the Regional/Sectional Committee and (in the case of the Regional Chair) the Regional Executive Committee and to carry out such other duties within the Region/Section as assigned to him/her by the Executive Council in accordance with these Rules and the policy of the Union.

(3) Apart from his/her general duties referred to above, the duties of the Regional/Sectional Secretary shall be to prepare the agenda and business of the Regional/Sectional Committee and (in the case of the Regional Secretary) Regional Executive Committee and to carry out such other duties as assigned to him/her by the Executive Council in accordance with these Rules and the policy of the Union.

(4) Apart from his/her general duties referred to above, the Regional Treasurer shall be responsible for the Regional finances. He/she shall ensure the Membership Secretaries promptly despatch to Head Office, members’ contributions collected by them. He/she shall supervise the expenditure from the Regional funds. He/she shall prepare a quarterly financial statement which, after being audited and presented to the Regional Committee, shall be submitted to Head Office.

(5) Apart from the general duties referred to in Rule 18 (1) the Regional Official shall assist the Regional Committees in the administration of the Union’s affairs.

(6) Regional Officials may within their Region attend any lower Committee or Branch meeting of the Union “ex-officio”.

Rule 19
NATIONAL AND REGIONAL ELECTIONS
(1) (a) General
The overlapping of elections is permitted subject to adherence to these basic principles.

(i) The Executive Council shall determine the order in which elections shall be processed and shall be required to give notice of intention to hold an election to the respective electoral territory concerned before instituting nominating procedures.

(ii) Following acceptance of nominations in respect of an election, nominations in respect of outstanding elections may be called for, providing that the Executive Council are satisfied that no eligible candidate is concerned in the first election. Similarly nominations for an election may be called for at the ballot stage of another election providing the Executive Council are satisfied that no eligible candidate is concerned in that ballot.

(iii) This procedure shall be ongoing and uninterrupted subject to the proviso that no member shall stand for more than one full-time or honorary position at any one time nor be debarred from standing for election to any post for which he/she is eligible.

(b)

(i) Elections for the following posts are referred to as statutory elections in this Rule.
President
General Secretary
Assistant General Secretary
All Executive Council Members

(ii) The counting and scrutinising of votes and the declaring of returns in elections provided for in this Rule shall be undertaken by independent scrutineers nominated by the General Secretary.
In statutory elections, the Scrutineers nominated will meet the criteria specified by statute and shall conduct the election in accordance with all procedures required by statute

(c)

(i) Nomination papers shall be despatched by the General Secretary to all Branches entitled to nominate for the election at least five weeks before the date of close of nominations.

(ii) A Branch may only nominate a candidate for an election at a properly convened Branch meeting.

(iii) The Branch’s nomination shall be entered on the correct nomination paper which shall be signed by two Officials of the nominating Branch, who shall also certify that the nomination has been properly made in accordance with (ii) above.

(iv) Completed nomination papers in respect of elections for the posts of General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary, National Officer, and President shall be sent direct by the Branch Officials to the Returning Officer. Nomination papers in respect of other elections held in accordance with this Rule shall be sent direct to the General Secretary.

(v) The closing date and time for receipt of nomination papers shall be clearly shown on the nomination papers.

(vi) A nomination paper not completed in accordance with these Rules or not completed in accordance with the instructions thereon or received after the closing date and time shall be rejected and declared void.

(d)

(i) The General Secretary shall notify each candidate for election of his/her nomination within seven days of close of nominations.

(ii) A nominated candidate shall notify the General Secretary in writing not more than 21 days after close of nominations whether he/she accepts nomination failing which the nomination shall be rejected and declared void.

(iii) Eligible candidates who have accepted nomination shall be entitled to submit to the General Secretary for onward transmission to the scrutineers in statutory elections an election statement not exceeding 250 words in length, which may for example, set out the industrial and political work of the candidate and the work he/she has performed or proposes to perform on behalf of the Union. Election statements received by the General Secretary more than 21 days from the date of close of nomination shall not be circulated.

(e)

(i) Save in respect of statutory elections a notice of intention to commence balloting shall be sent seven days before the distribution of ballot papers to all Branches in the electoral area concerned clearly stating the closing date and time of voting.

(ii) A list of candidates produced as a ballot paper together with the election statements referred to above shall be issued to each member entitled to vote in the election in accordance with the procedure given below.

(iii) The ballot paper shall state each candidate’s full name, length of membership, past and present offices held in the Union and the names of the Branch or Branches nominating that candidate.
In statutory elections it will also bear its own unique serial number, specify the name of the Scrutineer and set out the address to which and the date by which it is to be returned.

(iv) The General Secretary shall supply ballot papers to the Brigade Secretary for the electoral territory concerned who shall distribute or cause to be distributed the ballot papers to the Branches whose members are entitled to vote. If the Brigade Secretary is involved in the election, another Official appointed by the Brigade Committee shall fulfil this function.
In statutory elections the scrutineers shall distribute ballot papers by post to the home address of all members entitled to vote, or to such other address as the member has specified in a written request to the Union to be treated as his/her postal address.

(v) Each member shall record his/her vote by marking an "X" in the box opposite the name of the candidate he/she desires to be elected and shall then return the completed voting paper in the envelope provided for this purpose to be received by the date and time of close of voting by the scrutineer in the case of statutory elections, and in other cases by the Branch Official conducting the ballot.

(vi) A ballot paper on which the votes are not recorded in accordance with the instructions contained thereon and as specified by this Rule shall not be counted as a valid vote.
A ballot paper not received by the date and time referred to in Rule 19 (1) (e) (v) shall not be counted as a valid vote, whatever the reason for any delayed receipt.
In the case of elections which are not statutory elections:

(f)

(i) Upon the closing of voting, the Branch Secretary shall send or cause to be sent to the Scrutineers forthwith:
- the ballot papers unopened and unexamined in their envelopes;
- the completed form provided setting out the serial numbers of the ballot papers provided to members of the Branch concerned; and
- the number of ballot papers unissued.

(ii) Ballot papers received by the Scrutineers later than 14.00 hours on the date notified for receipt of ballot papers which shall be at least seven days after the close of voting shall not be counted as valid votes in the election whatever the reason for any delayed receipt.

(g) The Scrutineers shall decide whether any ballot papers shall be rejected or counted in accordance with these Rules and shall determine all disputes concerning the conduct of elections under this Rule. Their decision shall be final. The Scrutineers shall prepare a Scrutineers` report setting out the number of ballot papers distributed and returned, the total number of votes given for any candidate and the total number of votes rejected. In statutory elections this report shall also contain any other information required by statute.

(h) A notice declaring the result of the election as stated in the scrutineers Report, together with a copy of that Report shall be sent by "All Members Circular" as soon as practicable after the Union receives the scrutineers Report.

(2) National Officials

(a) No candidate shall stand for the position of President, General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary and National Officer except at the discretion of the Executive Council, which will satisfy itself that any member so nominated will be capable of fulfilling the office for which he/she is nominated.

(b) Each Branch of the Union shall be entitled to submit nominations for these offices.

(c) In the event of any of these offices falling vacant, the Executive Council shall within six months of the vacancy occurring hold an election in accordance with this Rule.

(3) Executive Council Members and Regional Officials

(a) Nominations in respect of these positions shall be confined to members serving at Branches situated within the respective electoral territories. Each Branch shall be entitled to nominate one candidate for each position in respect of the electoral territory within which the Branch is situated.

Officers Executive Council Member and National Secretary and Chair.

(b) Nominations in respect of these positions shall be confined to members of Station Officer rank or above. Each Brigade Committee shall, after consultation with its Officer membership, be entitled to nominate one Officer member as a candidate for these positions. Ballot papers for election to these offices will be issued to Station Officer rank and above.
The provisions contained in Rule 9 shall apply to the Officers Executive Council Member.

Control Staff Executive Council Member and National Secretary and Chair

(c) Nominations in respect of these positions shall be confined to Control Staff members. Each Brigade Committee shall, after consultation with its Control Staff membership, be entitled to nominate one Control Staff member as a candidate for these positions. Ballot papers for election to these offices will be issued to Control Staff members.
The provisions contained in Rule 9 shall apply to the Control Staff Executive Council Member.

Retained Staff Executive Council Member and National Secretary and Chair

(d) Nominations in respect of these positions shall be confined to Retained members. Each Brigade Committee shall, after consultation with its Retained members, be entitled to nominate one Retained member as a candidate for these positions. Ballot papers for election to these offices will be issued to Retained members. The provisions contained in Rule 9 shall apply to the Retained Members Executive Council Member.

Women Members Executive Council Member and National Secretary and Chair

(e) Nominations in respect of these positions shall be confined to Women members. Each Brigade Committee shall, after consultation with its Women members, be entitled to nominate one Women member as a candidate for these positions. Ballot papers for election to these offices will be issued to Women members. The provisions contained in Rule 9 shall apply to the Women Members Executive Council Member.

Black and Ethnic Minority Members Executive Council Member and National Secretary and Chair

(f) Nominations in respect of these positions shall be confined to Black and Ethnic Minority members. Each Brigade Committee shall, after consultation with its Black and Ethnic Minority members, be entitled to nominate one Black and Ethnic Minority member as a candidate for these positions. Ballot papers for election to these offices will be issued to Black and Ethnic Minority members.
The provisions contained in Rule 9 shall apply to the Black and Ethnic Minority Members Executive Council Member.

Gay and Lesbian Members Executive Council Member and National Secretary and Chair

(g) Nominations in respect of these positions shall be confined to Gay and Lesbian members. Each Brigade Committee shall, after consultation with its Gay and Lesbian members, be entitled to nominate one Gay and Lesbian member as a candidate for these positions. Ballot papers for election to these offices will be issued to Gay and Lesbian members.

Rule 19A
CANVASSING
(1) Canvassing for nomination or votes by a candidate for election under this Rule whether in person or by letter, circular or any other means or on behalf of a candidate for election under this Rule by letter, circular, or other written communication shall constitute a disciplinary offence.

(2) If a member believes that another member ("the defendant") has committed a disciplinary offence contrary to (1) above, he/she shall submit a written complaint setting out details of the defendant’s conduct to the General Secretary to be received by him/her not later than 28 days after the declaration of the result of the election by the Returning Officer.

(3) If the General Secretary believes (which belief he/she may form after a preliminary inquiry has been held) that the defendant has committed an offence contrary to this Rule:

(a) if the result of the election for which canvassing is alleged has not been declared, the election shall be suspended;

(b) if the result of the election has been declared and the defendant was the successful candidate he/she shall be suspended from the office to which he/she was elected or re-elected pending the outcome of proceedings under this Rule. If a Full Time Official is suspended, that suspension shall be on full pay. A suspended defendant shall not attend or call meetings of the Union or represent the Union in any capacity as the holder of the office from which he/she is suspended but may continue to receive such honoraria and allowances and such Union papers marked "for information only" as he/she would have received but for his/her suspension;

(c) the General Secretary shall convene a meeting (which may be an ordinary meeting) of the Executive Council in accordance with Rule 26(5) for the purposes of a hearing to consider the complaint. In addition to the matters referred to in that Rule the notice of the meeting sent to the defendant shall also inform him/her that the proceedings may lead to him/her being disqualified from standing for election to the office concerned. Save as appears below the hearing shall be in accordance with Rule 26(6) and the complainant shall be the General Secretary or a member nominated by the General Secretary; and

(d) The General Secretary may take such steps as he/she considers necessary to ensure the good management of the Union pending the outcome of proceedings under this Rule.

(4) At the hearing referred to at (3)(c) above, the Executive Council shall consider firstly the disciplinary complaint against the defendant and shall make a resolution in accordance with Rule 26(3)(e)(i) or (ii). The penalties available are those set out in Rule 26(3)(f).

(5) If the Executive Council find the complaint to be justified, in addition to (4) above:

(a) If the result of the election has not been declared, or has been declared and the defendant was the successful candidate, or canvassing on behalf of the successful candidate, the election shall be recommenced from close of nominations save that if there is no candidate remaining or the suspension of the election was before close of nominations the election shall be declared void and entirely recommenced.

(b) The defendant shall be disqualified from standing in the recommenced election.

For the avoidance of doubt:

(i) in all other circumstances the result of the election shall stand;

(ii) if the defendant was canvassing on behalf of a candidate, that candidate shall not be disqualified from standing in the recommenced election;

(iii) if an election is to be recommenced from close of nominations and only one candidate remains nominated due to the operation of this Rule, that candidate shall be declared elected unopposed.

(6) If the Executive Council find the complaint not to be justified:

(a) if the result of the election has been declared, the result shall stand;

(b) if the result of the election has not been declared:

(i) if nominations had been closed prior to the suspension of the election, the election shall be recommenced from close of nominations;

(ii) if nominations had not been closed prior to the suspension of the election the election shall be declared void and entirely recommenced.

(7) As soon as is practicable, the General Secretary shall notify the defendant in writing of the resolution of the Executive Council and of any right of appeal.

(8) There shall be a right of appeal from the Executive Council to the Final Appeals Committee save that if the election was for the position of Executive Council member or Full Time Official the appeal shall lie to Annual Conference. The procedure for appeal shall be in accordance with Rule 26(4) for appeals to the Final Appeals Committee and Rule 8A(5) for appeals to Annual Conference.

(9) Any resolution under this Rule shall take effect at the same time as provided by Rule 8A(6).

(10) The defendant has the right to representation under this Rule as set out in Rule 26(7), save that if the defendant is a Full Time Official he/she may be represented by a Full Time Official if that Official is willing to act as his/her representative.

(11) No other proceedings under Rule 8A, 8B or 26 shall be permitted against a defendant to proceedings under this Rule until such proceedings have been disposed of and no proceedings under Rule 8A, 8B or 26 shall be taken in relation to any offence under (1) above.

(12) For the purpose of this Rule, Full Time Official includes General Secretary and Assistant General Secretary.

(13) For the avoidance of doubt, if the complaint lies against the General Secretary then references above to General Secretary shall be taken as Assistant General Secretary.

Rule 20
REGIONAL COMMITTEES
(1) For the furtherance of the Union business and for the mutual encouragement and strengthening of Brigade Committees and of the membership within each Region there shall be established in each Region a Committee to be known as "the Regional Committee".

(2) In the case of London and Northern Ireland, the Brigade Committees shall also perform the functions and assume the title of Regional Committees.

(a) In all other cases the Regional Committee shall be comprised of its Officials and delegates elected from Brigade Committees on the following basis:
With the exception of Nos. 5 and 8 Regions, one delegate shall be elected from each Brigade Committee to the Regional Committee and from each Metropolitan Brigade Committee, there shall be two delegates elected to the Regional Committee.
For the No. 5 Region, representation to the Regional Committee shall be on the basis of two delegates from the Greater Manchester Brigade Committee, two from Lancashire Brigade Committee, two from Merseyside Brigade Committee, two from Cheshire Brigade Committee, two from Cumbria Brigade Committee and one from the Isle of Man Brigade Committee plus Officials.
For the No. 8 Region, representation to the Regional Committee shall be on the basis of two delegates from each Brigade Committee plus Officials.

(b) Provision shall be made in the composition of each Regional Committee for the adequate representation of Black and Ethnic Minority members, Control Staff members, Gay and Lesbian members, Officer members, Retained members and Women members within the Region. All members of the Regional Committee, excluding the Executive Council Member, shall have full voting rights.

(3) The duties of the Regional Committees shall be:

(a) To supervise the conduct of negotiations within its territory in accordance with the policy of the Union. In cases in which the policy on matters to be negotiated has not been determined by the Annual Conference or by the Executive Council it shall be the duty of the Regional Committee to refer such matters to the Executive Council for guidance. To facilitate the discharge of these responsibilities the Regional Committees shall ensure the establishment in each Brigade of a Brigade negotiating Committee.

(b) To refer to the Executive Council member or the Executive Council, with such recommendation as it may deem appropriate, any Brigade Committee, Brigade Official or other honorary Official who fails to comply with the policy of the Union or refuses to accept the guidance, advice or direction of the Regional Committee.

(c) To be responsible for the development of membership and organisation in the Region.

(d) The Regional Committee shall ensure that effective arrangements are made to despatch contributions from members to Head Office, via Brigade Membership Secretaries acting under the supervision of the Regional Treasurer.

(e) To ensure that timely and adequate reports on the policy of the Executive Council and of the Regional Committee are provided to Brigade Committees and Branches.

(f) To receive and consider resolutions from Brigade Committees and to forward such resolutions as it approves on matters of national policy to the Executive Council.

(g) To be responsible for the development of strategies designed to ensure fairness at work, health and safety procedures and educational opportunities. To this end, the Regional Committee shall appoint three Officials, to be known as;

(1) The Regional Fairness at Work Officer
(2) The Regional Health and Safety Co-ordinator and
(3) The Regional Education Officer.

The Regional Committee shall also establish three sub-committees for these specific references, which shall report to each meeting of the Regional Committee. The sub-committee in each case will include a Regional Official, the appointed Regional Officer and relevant representatives from Brigade Committees.

(4) For political purposes it shall establish a Regional Political Fund to which the central political fund shall remit, at the end of each financial quarter, one-third of the monies collected from the membership in the Region.

(5) The Regional Committee shall hold an annual general meeting, to which Brigade Committees shall be invited to send extended
delegations on a basis to be determined by the Regional Committee
and to which the Executive Council member and the Regional
Secretary shall make their annual reports.

(6) The Regional Committee shall hold an annual general meeting, to which Brigade Committees shall be invited to send extended delegations on a basis to be determined by the Regional Committee and to which the Executive Council member and the Regional Secretary shall make their annual reports.

(7) In each Regional Committee there shall be established an Executive Committee, which shall consist of the Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Regional Official and such other members of the Regional Committee as the Regional Committee may elect. This Executive Committee shall meet, where necessary, between Regional Committee meetings. The Executive Committee shall report on its proceedings and upon its actions to each subsequent meeting of the Regional Committee.

(a) The Regional Committee shall nominate annually for the consideration of Annual Conference, one of its Regional Officials to serve on the Final Appeals Committee, as described in Rule 26.

Rule 21
BRIGADE COMMITTEES
(1) Within the territory of each Fire Authority (except where the Executive Council may otherwise determine), there shall be established a Brigade Committee. The Brigade Committee may, following approval by the Regional Committee, be comprised of either delegates from the Branches within the Brigade’s territory, or of delegates from Divisional Committees.
Representation to the Brigade/Divisional Committees shall be based on the following criteria:

a) Where no Divisional Committees are established, the representation to the Brigade Committee shall be on the basis of one delegate per branch, or two delegates in the case of any Branch having 100 or more members.
Where there are fewer than six Branches in a Brigade, additional delegates may be appointed from the Branches to the Brigade Committee in proportion to their membership, provided that not more than three delegates are appointed from any Branch.

b) Where Divisional Committees are established, their boundaries and functions shall be determined by the Brigade Committee. Representation to the Divisional Committee shall be on the basis of one delegate per Branch within that division, or two delegates in the case of any Branch having 100 or more members. Representation to the Brigade Committee shall be on the basis of two delegates from each Divisional Committee, both delegates to have full voting rights except for London Region, where each division shall have one delegate. The Divisional Committee shall annually elect from amongst their members a Chair and Secretary who will act in an ex-officio capacity to the Divisional Committee until the next annual general meeting. The Chair and Secretary will be eligible for re-election.

(2) The duties of the Brigade Committee shall be:

(a) In association with the Regional Committee, to establish negotiating machinery through which matters of concern to members within the Brigade shall be pursued with the employing authority and the Chief Fire Officer. The Brigade Committee shall report to the Regional Committee on all matters dealt with through this negotiating machinery.

(b) To ensure that timely and adequate consideration is given to matters referred to the Committee by the Executive Council or the Regional Committee. To ensure that proper reports on these matters are received by the Branches.

(c) To supervise the establishment of proper Branch and Divisional Committee organisation and to ensure that Branches and Divisional Committees comply with the requirements placed upon them by these Rules.

(d) To provide that Black and Ethnic Minority members, Control Staff members, Gay and Lesbian members, Officer members, Retained members, Women members and, where appropriate, other special categories of members are adequately represented on the Brigade Committee with full voting rights.

(e) To ensure that the Union is affiliated to and represented on those Trades Councils corresponding to the territory covered by the Committee.

(f) To be responsible for the development of strategies designed to ensure fairness at work, health and safety procedures, life long learning and trade union educational opportunities. To this end, the Brigade Committee shall appoint four Officials, to be known as

1) The Brigade Fairness at Work Officer
2) The Brigade Health & Safety Representative
3) The Brigade Lifelong Learning Co-ordinator and
4) The Brigade Education Officer.

The Brigade Committee shall also establish four sub-committees for these specific references, which shall report to each meeting of the Brigade Committee. The sub-committee in each case will include a Brigade Official, the appointed Brigade Officer and representatives from the Brigade Committee.
In exceptional cases, the Brigade Committee may resolve to carry out itself, the duties of four Sub-Committees.

(g) To perform such other functions as are delegated to it by the Executive Council or Regional Committee.

(3) (a) In each Brigade the Brigade Committee Chair and Secretary shall be elected by ballot of the membership of the Brigade for a period of office of two years.

(b) In each Brigade, the Brigade Membership Secretary shall be elected or appointed for a period of two years, by the Brigade Committee acting in consultation with the Regional Committee.
The Brigade Membership Secretary shall perform the duties specified in Rule 20 (3)(d) and Rule 5 (1) (c).

(c) Such other offices as the Brigade Committee may approve shall be filled by appointment or election in accordance with procedures determined by the Brigade Committee.

(d) Regional Officials shall be eligible for nomination and election to the posts of Brigade Committee Chair or Secretary.

(e) Brigade Officials elected or appointed in accordance with Rule 21 (3) (a) or (b) may attend within their Brigade any Lower Committee or Branch meeting of the Union "ex-officio".

Rule 22
NATIONAL SECTIONAL COMMITTEES
(i) A Black and Ethnic Minority Members National Committee.
There shall be established a Committee known as the Black and Ethnic Minority Members National Committee. The functions of this Committee shall be to advise the Executive Council on matters affecting the conditions of employment of Black and Ethnic Minority members of the Union and the negotiations attaching thereto. It shall be responsible for advising the Executive Council on the organisation and recruitment of Black and Ethnic Minority members into the Union.

It shall comprise of one Black or Ethnic Minority member from each Region, a Chair and a Secretary. The member from each Region shall be elected by the Black and Ethnic Minority members in the Region. The National Chair and Secretary shall be elected by Black and Ethnic Minority Members in line with Rule 18 and Rule 19. It shall also, subject to the approval of the Executive Council, elect members to serve in a capacity advisory to the Executive Council upon the national negotiating bodies concerned with Black and Ethnic members' conditions of employment.

In conjunction with the Executive Council the Black and Ethnic Minority Members National Committee shall organise an annual general meeting of representatives of Black and Ethnic Minority members.

The Chair and Secretary of the Black and Ethnic Minority Members National Committee shall have the status under these Rules of a Regional Chair and Regional Secretary.

(ii) Control Staff National Committee
There shall be established a Committee known as the Control Staff National Committee. The function of this Committee shall be to advise the Executive Council on matters affecting the conditions of employment of Control Staff members of the Union and the negotiations attaching thereto.

It shall be responsible for advising the Executive Council on organisation and recruitment of Control Staff into the Union. It shall comprise of one Control Staff member from each Region, a Chair and a Secretary. The member from each Region shall be elected by the Control Staff Members in the Region. The National Chair and Secretary shall be elected by Control Staff Members in line with Rule 18 and Rule 19. It shall also, subject to the approval of the Executive Council, elect members to serve in a capacity advisory to the Executive Council upon the national negotiating bodies concerned with Control Room Staff conditions of employment.

In conjunction with the Executive Council the Control Staff National Committee shall organise an annual general meeting of representatives of Control Staff members.

The Chair and Secretary of the Control Staff National Committee shall have the same status under these Rules as a Regional Chair and Regional Secretary.

(iii) A National Gay and Lesbian Committee
There shall be established a Committee known as the National Gay and Lesbian Committee. The functions of this Committee shall be to advise the Executive Council on matters affecting the conditions of employment of the Gay and Lesbian members of the Union and the negotiations attaching thereto. It shall be responsible for advising the Executive Council on the organisation and recruitment of Gay and Lesbian members into the Union.

It shall comprise of one Gay or Lesbian member from each Region, a Chair and a Secretary. The members from each Region shall be elected by the Gay and Lesbian members in the Region. The National Chair and Secretary shall be elected by the Gay and Lesbian Members in line with Rule 18 and Rule 19. It shall also, subject to the approval of the Executive Council, elect members to serve in a capacity advisory to the Executive Council upon the national negotiating bodies concerned with Gay and Lesbians' conditions of employment.

In conjunction with the Executive Council the National Gay and Lesbian Committee shall organise an annual general meeting of representatives of Gay and Lesbian members.
The Chair and Secretary of the National Gay and Lesbian Committee shall have the status under these Rules of a Regional Chair and Regional Secretary.

(iv) Officers National Committee
There shall be established a Committee known as the Officers’ National Committee. The functions of this Committee shall be to advise the Executive Council on matters affecting the conditions of employment of members of the Union of the rank of Station Officer and above and the negotiations attaching thereto. It shall be responsible for advising the Executive Council on the organisation and recruitment of Officers into the Union.

It shall comprise of one member of Station Officer rank or above from each Region, a Chair and a Secretary. The member from each Region shall be elected by the Officer members in the Region. The National Chair and Secretary shall be elected by Officer members in line with Rule 18 and Rule 19. It shall also, subject to the approval of the Executive Council, elect members to serve in a capacity advisory to the Executive Council upon the national negotiating bodies concerned with Officers’ conditions of employment.

In conjunction with the Executive Council the Officers’ National Committee shall organise an annual general meeting of representatives of Officer members.

The Chair and Secretary of the Officers’ National Committee shall have the status under these Rules of a Regional Chair and Regional Secretary.

(v) National Retained Committee
There shall be established a Committee known as the National Retained Committee. The functions of this Committee shall be to advise the Executive Council on matters affecting the conditions of Employment of Retained members of the Union and the negotiations attaching thereto. It shall be responsible for advising the Executive Council on the organisation and recruitment of Retained members into the Union.

It shall comprise of one Retained member from each Region, a Chair and a Secretary. The member from each Region shall be elected by the Retained members in the Region. The National Chair and Secretary shall be elected by Retained Members in line with Rule 18 and Rule 19. It shall also, subject to the approval of the Executive Council, elect members to serve in a capacity advisory to the Executive Council upon the national negotiating bodies concerned with Retained conditions of employment.

In conjunction with the Executive Council the National Retained Committee shall organise an annual general meeting of representatives of Retained members.

The Chair and Secretary of the National Retained Committee shall have the status under these Rules of Regional Chair and Regional Secretary.

(vi) A National Women's Committee
There shall be established a Committee known as the National Women's Committee. The functions of this Committee shall be to advise the Executive Council on matters affecting the conditions of employment of women members of the Union and the negotiations attaching thereto. It shall be responsible for advising the Executive Council on the organisation and recruitment of women into the Union.

It shall comprise of one woman member from each Region, a Chair and a Secretary. The member from each Region shall be elected by the Women members in the Region. The National Chair and Secretary shall be elected by Women Members in line with Rule 18 and Rule 19. It shall also, subject to the approval of the Executive Council, elect members to serve in a capacity advisory to the Executive Council upon the national negotiating bodies concerned with women's conditions of employment.

In conjunction with the Executive Council the National Women's Committee shall organise an annual general meeting of representatives of women members.

The Chair and Secretary of the National Women's Committee shall have the status under these Rules of a Regional Chair and Regional Secretary.

Rule 23
BRANCH ORGANISATION
(1) Those members employed at a fire station, or subject to approval by the Brigade Committee at any other place of employment, shall comprise a Branch.

(2) It shall be the duty of the Branch members to elect from their number by such methods as they may determine with the approval of the Brigade Committee, a Chair, Secretary, Health and Safety representative, a Union Learning representative and a delegate, or delegates to the Brigade Committee or to the Divisional Committee.

(3) All or any number of the foregoing Officers with such other members as the Branch shall decide shall constitute a Branch Committee, which shall be representative of all watches at the station and which shall meet monthly.

(4) General Branch meetings shall be held as considered necessary by the Branch Committee, provided that such a meeting is held at least once a quarter. A majority of Branch members may by requisition oblige the Chair to call a special Branch meeting. At each General Branch meeting, a report will be given of business conducted by the Brigade Committee, including reports from the three sub-committees referred to in Rule 21 (2) (f).

(5) Under the direction of Brigade Committees, Branches shall be affiliated to local Trades Councils.