1. The role of local authority fire and rescue services in the United Kingdom is the reduction in the loss of life, injury, economic and social cost arising from fires and other hazards. The service is responsible for:

• Risk reduction and risk management in relation to fires and some other types of hazard or emergency.
• Community fire safety and education.
• Fire safety enforcement.
• Emergency responses to fires and other emergencies where it is best fitted to act as the primary agency responsible for the rescue of people including road traffic accidents, chemical spillages and other large-scale incidents such as transport accidents.
• Emergency preparedness coupled with the capacity and resilience to respond to major incidents of terrorism and other chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.

2. The National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services (the NJC) is the body responsible for the supervision, from a national point of view, of all questions affecting the conditions of service of employees (other than those in Brigade Management roles) of fire and rescue services established under the Fire Services Acts 1947-59. To this end the NJC’s principal role is to reach agreement on a national framework of pay and conditions for local application throughout the fire and rescue service in the United Kingdom. The NJC is committed to the local democratic control of fire and rescue services to the community.

3. The NJC’s overall aim is to support and encourage the delivery of high quality services by a competent, well-developed, motivated, and diverse workforce, with security of employment. The following principles are fundamental to the achievement of this aim:

• Equality in employment and employee relations, the removal of discrimination and the promotion of equality as a core principle that underpins service delivery.
• The highest standards of health and safety at work consistent with providing a front-line, life-saving emergency service.
• The provision of a fire and rescue service that can be adapted to meet the local needs of the community, employers and employees.
• Stable industrial relations achieved by consultation and negotiation between fire and rescue authorities as employers and recognised trade unions.

4. The NJC has a strong commitment to joint consultation and negotiation, with a view to reaching agreement, between fire and rescue authorities and recognised trade unions at all levels. To this end the NJC encourages employees to join independent, certificated, recognised trade unions. The NJC believes that cooperation between employers, employees and the trade unions will help ensure successful service delivery.

5. The NJC wishes to refer to the joint nature of the decisions incorporated in this scheme of conditions of service and to remind fire and rescue authorities of the value of affording opportunities to employees, through their accredited representatives, for consultation on matters included in the scheme, where such consultation is appropriate. The NJC hopes that the scheme will provide a sound basis for harmony throughout the fire and rescue services in the United Kingdom.

6. This sixth edition of the scheme accordingly represents the national terms and conditions of employment of uniformed employees (other than those in Brigade Management roles) of the fire and rescue services of all local authorities in the United Kingdom, and of volunteers carrying out operational firefighting duties, as supplemented from time to time by local agreements and provisions. The sixth scheme replaces in its entirety the provisions of the former scheme of conditions of service agreed by the NJC.

7. Any questions concerning the interpretation of this scheme of conditions of service should be referred to the NJC.