UNION CONSULTS MEMBERS ON NEW CPD PROPOSALS
Executive Council agrees that revised set of proposals represent best currently achievable position through negotiation under present circumstances.
A revised set of proposals on CPD have been put to the union and members are now to be consulted upon them, the Executive Council has agreed.
The proposals – which include transitional arrangements taking account of the issue of the reduction of LSI in a number of brigades – were considered by the Union’s Executive Council, just prior to a meeting of the National Joint Council on Friday 15 December.
The consultation process is to conclude in time for a further meeting of the Executive Council ahead of an NJC meeting on 6 February.
The EC recognised that the proposals amounted to the best position that was going to be achieved through negotiation at this time and under the present circumstances.
In a nutshell
The Scheme consists of the following central elements:
- CPD is an experience and knowledge based payment
- It shall be fully pensionable
- A local rate of CPD based upon the amount of Long Service Increment (LSI) paid within each Fire and Rescue Authority (FRA)
- A payment for part-time members including those who working the Retained Duty System will be paid on a pro-rata basis subject to a minimum payment of 25% of the amount paid to Wholetime personnel
- Personnel will become eligible for CPD five years after becoming competent. For those taking promotion, subject to having achieved 8 years in service, personnel will become eligible one year after becoming competent in their role
- Members will only have to apply once. You will not have to continually re-apply. Should, in exceptional circumstances, an employer believe the payment should be reconsidered - the employer would have to evidence this
- Members should apply using the NJC application form and give evidence against each of the four national standards
- National guidance has been produced to assist with the completion of the form. Additional assistance must be given by the local employer
- In those FRAs where there is no process for determining competency in role, all employees with 8 years service should be deemed competent for CPD purposes
- CPD will be introduced in July 2007 and the rates shown will be indexed to pay rises
- Whilst some FRAs will be paying less than £500, both sides of the NJC recognise that the knowledge, skills and experience of uniformed personnel should be rewarded properly. Each FRA is encouraged to explore ways to bring the level of payment up to £500
- Until July 2007, there will be a transitional arrangement whereby recipients of LSI shall receive payments so that they will receive £990 between July 2006 and July 2007 (or a proportionate amount for those Firefighters who achieve 15 years service between July 2006 and July 2007).
More information
As far as possible the FBU National Joint Secretaries - General Secretary Matt Wrack and Assistant General Secretary Andy Dark - shall attend regional and brigade committees as requested in order to discuss the proposals with officials and members.
Further information on the proposals – including a copy of all the CPD documents and a fuller commentary on the CPD Scheme and payments - will be sent to branches and home addresses.
Members’ home addresses and nomination for benefits
Members are reminded to ensure that the FBU has your correct personal details on record. The FBU is generally not informed of these changes by the local fire and rescue service. (For members of the AIF, for example, this could include member’s chosen nominee(s) for benefits in the event of a member’s death). Members are therefore urged to ensure that the Union is informed of your correct personal details including your current address.
We also need this information to ensure that circulars we send to members at home will reach all members. The CPD document referred to above is a case in point.
If you are in any doubt as to whether your details are correct please obtain a Membership Details and/or Variation to Nomination form from your local officials or download them from the FBU website. Please bring this to the attention of other members on your branch.
NJC Constitution
The Executive Council also discussed the matter of the NJC constitution, an issue which has remained unresolved since the 2003 agreement. It was agreed between the two sides that certain issues needed further clarification and further discussion and this issue will be addressed soon
Geoff Wicker
A funeral cortege for Geoff Wicker is to be held on Thursday 21 December and will be stopping at 13:00 at Heathfield Fire Station, Crowborough. The funeral Service at Mayfield Church is to be a family service only.
The following fund has been set up in memory of Brian Wembridge and Geoff Wicker:
Account name : East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Memorial Fund
Sort number : 60-13-09
Account number : 41549392
OR
Cheques can be made payable to 'ESFRS Memorial Fund' and posted to:
ESFRS Headquarters,
20 Upperton Road,
Eastbourne,
East Sussex.
BN21 1EU
Merseyside Hardship Fund
While the industrial dispute in Merseyside has been settled, local members still face financial hardship. A total of 25 full days strike action was taken over 26 days making this the longest period of strike action in the Fire Service since the first national strike in 1977.
All FBU members and committees are urged to make another push to raise money to support the Merseyside Hardship Fund. Our members on Merseyside and their families need and deserve our support.
MERSEYSIDE HARDSHIP FUND
HSBC Bank
Sort code: 40-29-28
Account number: 91320165
Alternatively cheques can be sent to:
Kenny Gore,
Brigade Membership Secretary,
c/o The Fire Brigades Union,
The Peoples Centre,
Mount Pleasant,
Liverpool,
L3 5UN
Speak Up for Public Services
The TUC has called a lobby of Parliament in support of our public services. This is an important event for us as workers within the Fire and Rescue Service and also as members of the public affected by the level of provision and quality of other Public Services. The lobby takes place on:
- Tuesday 23rd January 2007 From 11:30 hrs onwards Rally in Central Hall Westminster from 12:30 hrs
Further information will be available soon. Transport is being organised through the regional TUC organisation. Contact your local official for details.
Seasons Greetings
The FBU wishes to extend seasons greetings to all members and officials.
