Dear Brother / Sister
JOINT STATEMENT BETWEEN FBU, NATIONAL EMPLOYERS, AND NFCC – ARRANGEMENTS IN RESPONSE TO CORONAVIRUS (26 MARCH 2020)
During the course of the last seven days, there have been a series of quite long and intense discussions between the FBU, NFCC and National Employers (fire) concerning a potential joint statement in respect of temporary arrangements in response to the impact of coronavirus.
This circular provides members with a copy of the statement agreed between the three parties’ lead officers which has since been agreed by the three organisations.
Brigade Officials will be applying this agreement with FRS management and will be able to assist questions that you may have. Members are asked to channel your questions through your branch representatives.
The key issue for members is to be mindful that though the areas of activity have been agreed, there needs to be local discussion to ensure sufficient agreed measures can be put in place before the activities are rolled out. Equally, the three organisations are taking a balanced and measured approach to ensure that the FRS is not over-committed. These are three strategic activities and whilst FRSs may receive many other requests from other agencies for other types of work, these are the only activities which have been agreed.
In addition, it may be that there is no request, as yet, made to your FRS from other public services to carry out one or more of these activities. In turn it may be that your FRS is not able to meet the request in full because of demands on the service resulting from call-demand and/or shortage of availability of staff.
Members should await information from Brigade Officials.
Best wishes.
Yours fraternally
MATT WRACK
General Secretary
