Pay formula produces 2.4% rise

A meeting of the National Joint Council today agreed a 2.4% pay rise across all Grey Book pay scales from 1 July. This is the figure produced by the pay formula which formed  a central part of the June 2003 pay agreement.

General Secretary Matt Wrack said: “We have secured the 2.4% pay rise produced by the calculation of the formula. We asked for a period of stability within the fire service and this is a significant step towards that. Further discussions will take place about the long-term future of the pay formula in line with our established conference policy.”

A full circular will be sent out as soon as this is practical.

Protected Pay

Many FBU members remain on protected pay scales as agreed under the 2003 Pay and Conditions Agreement linked to the substantive move from Rank to Role. Under the 2003 agreement these protected scales were to be reviewed in July 2007 (Head Office circular (2007HOC0295MW) was issued on this subject).

Station Officers, Fire Control Officers and Principal Fire Control Officers were among those placed on protected pay scales.  There was a real concern that those on protected pay scales would face either a pay freeze in July or worse still -  a cut in pay as a result of ACAS only recommending a firm three-year protection.

This position was dealt with at the National Joint Council today. Those on protected pay scales will remain on protected pay scales with the pay rise of 2.4% being applied this year. Discussions will continue until the review is completed. At this moment in time there is some distance between the position of both parties.

A circular will be sent out as soon as this is practical.

Warning: Second Contracts

A growing number of Fire and Rescue Authorities are seeking to engage members in additional work for the Service by means of second contracts. There are a number of very serious concerns regarding this practice.

The pension and compensation rights which members would normally expect may be seriously reduced under such second contracts. A fuller explanation of these concerns has already been issued and is available at Branches (2007HOC0305MW).

It is critical that you read this circular, which is available on the FBU website.  We intend to raise a number of concerns around this issue at the next meeting of the Firefighters’ Pension Committee. Members will be kept members informed of subsequent discussions.