Dear Brother/Sister
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: Medal and Bank Holiday
On 12 November 2020, the government announced that the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee will be marked by a four-day Bank Holiday weekend in June 2022 and that a Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medal will be awarded to public sector workers.
The four-day holiday will be facilitated by moving the May Bank Holiday to Thursday 2 June 2022 with an additional Bank Holiday on Friday 3 June 2022.
Members will recall that the Diamond Jubilee Medal was awarded to emergency service workers, but the eligibility criteria excluded those who did not attend incidents and therefore (in the eyes of government) did not face physical danger. The Union was not aware of the exclusion-provisions criteria until late in the day.
However, the FBU, with the support of the employers’ side of the NJC, wrote to the fire minister at DCLG on 20 February 2012, seeking his support for the eligibility criteria to be extended in such a way as to include emergency control staff. The minister, Bob Neill MP, replied on 26 February 2012 to state that the criteria were fixed and had been announced previously by the government on 28 June 2011. (See Appendices 4, 5 and 6).
It is of note that the government announcement issued in November 2020 reads: “…will be awarded to people who work in public service including representatives of the Armed Forces, the emergency services and the prison services. This tradition stretches back to the reign of Queen Victoria when an official medal was designed to mark her 50th anniversary on the throne.”
Following a meeting with the Control Staff National Committee (CSNC) the Fire Brigades Union, now being in early possession of the knowledge that the eligibility criteria is currently being considered, is not prepared to allow our emergency control staff Members to be slighted by government in the manner they were previously.
Our Members in fire control rooms throughout the UK routinely face extraordinary pressures with many as a consequence suffering mental ill-health due to the traumatic nature of the job they undertake. They are frontline emergency workers and must be recognised by government as such.
Therefore, the attached letter from the FBU Assistant General Secretary Bro Andy Dark to the employers’ side of the NJC asks the employers to agree to make representations to the relevant government ministers and departments to ensure that the eligibility criteria for receiving the medal are such that all grey book personnel receive the medal in recognition of both their past and their future public service. To that end we ask that the employer’s side join the employees’ side in taking the necessary steps to try to ensure that the medal is awarded to all grey book personnel without exception.
Bank Holiday
Bank Holidays were previously announced by the government in respect of:
- The Royal Wedding – 29th April 2011
- The Diamond Jubilee Extra Bank Holiday - 5th June 2012
Prior to each occasion, at the NJC, the FBU sought additional public holidays with the same arrangements that apply in respect of the public holidays as detailed in the Scheme of Conditions of Service. However, the employers’ side would only accede to paying double time for those on duty but would not award time off in lieu for personnel who were off-duty. (See Appendices 2 and 3).
The letter from Bro Dark pursues the award of an additional public holiday for all Grey Book personnel and that the award should reflect the same arrangements in respect of all other public holidays as detailed in the Scheme of Conditions of Service via the NJC.
Members will be kept informed as to developments and as to how the campaign will develop should our demands not be met.
Yours in unity.
MARK ROWE
National Officer
