Dear Brother/Sister
UPDATED CIRCULAR RE INDUSTRIAL ACTION TO DEFEND PENSIONS
Members will be aware that throughout the campaign to defend decent pensions in the Fire Service, on most occasions when strike action has been called, Buckinghamshire FRS has refused to accept partial performance and in effect locked the Buckingham members out for prolonged periods.
I have once again been informed by the local officials in Buckinghamshire that the authority will not accept partial performance during the period of strike action due to start at 0700 on 25 February 2015, for those members on shift duty stations (2,2,4).
This will leave the people of Buckinghamshire, once again, without the protection of professional firefighters for up to an additional 15 hours compared with the rest of England.
These Buckinghamshire members will be effectively locked out from 18.00hrs on the 24th February 2015 until 07.00hrs on the 25th February 2015 and from 07.00hrs on the 26th February 2015 until 09.00hrs on the 26th February 2015.
Local officials have tried through discussion with management to reach an agreement which could have avoided this situation but management were unwilling to reach agreement.
I would remind all members that up until 0700 on 25 February and from 0700 on 26 February that action short of strike remains in place, including the instruction that;
During periods of strike action being taken by FBU members, FBU members in a non-striking Fire and Rescue Service should not cross borders to work in a Fire and Rescue Service where FBU members are taking strike action or in a Fire and Rescue Service where the employer is not recognising partial performance.
As always it is hoped that the action we are taking will make politicians understand that we will continue to fight to defend decent pensions and cause them to make further concessions.
I would take this opportunity to congratulate all members for maintaining a united union and showing great determination in the struggle against this coalition government and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the rally in London tomorrow. For those of you who are unable to attend it is important that you support your local picket lines and get our message to as many of the public as possible.
Best wishes.
Yours fraternally
MATT WRACK
General Secretary
Circular ref
2015HOC0158MW
