COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT – MTA – GREATER MANCHESTER

Dear Brother / Sister

COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT – MTA – GREATER MANCHESTER

This circular brings to your attention an agreement reached in Greater Manchester between the GMFBU and GMFRS. The agreement is the outcome of a joint referral to the NJC Joint Secretaries.

The agreement includes the following principles:
 

1. Establishing the link between increased pay and undertaking the activity;
2. Establishes that there is not a local agreement which undermines national discussions;
3. Establishes that a breathing space has been provided to allow national discussions to progress;
4. Establishes that the terms of the temporary local agreement will be replaced by the terms of any national agreement (should a national agreement be reached) - an agreement which is nationally implemented in Greater Manchester irrespective of the local agreement;
5. Establishes that firefighters who are not part of the marauding terrorism resource will not be mobilised to such incidents;
6. Establishes that firefighters who are not part of the marauding terrorism resource withdraw from the warm zone at any such incident (should they have been called expecting to attend a different incident type).
7. This agreement, whilst not reached at national level, was conducted through the auspices of the National Joint Council;
8. It establishes that the reinstatement and continuance of the capability requires the agreement of the Fire Brigades Union and cannot simply be imposed by a fire and rescue service
9. It establishes the undertaking that this work is voluntary, is not contractual, and is not within the rolemaps of personnel.

Local officials attempted to achieve all elements of the FBU policy. Because GMFRS were unwilling to meet all of those terms and in order not to undermine national discussions or Brigade Officials elsewhere, the agreement is for a limited duration only, which is subject to review. Those matters not achieved through the conciliation process include:
 

• That all firefighters should be trained, equipped and paid to respond to MTA incidents because the experience is that firefighters are not called to a known “marauding terrorist incident”.
• A compensation payment above and beyond the statutory Scheme in the event of death at a marauding terrorist incident.
  
  However, points 5 and 6 above, far from ideal, are a halfway house and, as above, the arrangements do not commit to a permanent agreement, but instead for an 8-month period which is renewable.
  
  The Executive Council recognised the importance of the principles set out in points 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9 above; especially in the light of the Westminster government’s asserted position; the position adopted by HMICFRS; the Kerslake report and the possible outcomes and findings of the ongoing Manchester Arena Inquiry. Whilst the agreement did not achieve all of our policy aims, in recognition of the limited duration, the Executive Council considered the matter and took the decision that it would not prevent an agreement being reached by GMFBU.
  
  Those members who are currently undertaking MTA response are reminded that they should continue to periodically register with management that they are undertaking the activities on a voluntary basis only. This should be done in writing using the usual standard memorandum that is used for such matters in their FRS.
  
  Best wishes.
  
  Yours in solidarity.
  
  ANDY DARK
  Assistant General Secretary