Why the FBU's All Different All Equal policy is central to our union.
National officer Riccardo la Torre explains the key role of the union's policy on discrimination and harassment and how it works.
A member of your family comes home from work crying at least once a week. Or they say they want to give up their dream job. This, more than anyone would hope, can be a sad reality and is often the result of how someone is treated at work.
Everyone who works in the fire and rescue service should be treated with dignity and respect at work, and bullying, harassment, sexist, racist or homophobic behaviour should not be tolerated.
But until the day comes when unwanted and harmful behaviours are behind us, the FBU relies on its All Different All Equal (ADAE) policy to guide members and officials.
ADAE pulls together our most fundamental trade union values, of solidarity, democracy, unity and fairness.
Matt Wrack, general secretary, explains why it is so crucial to the power of the union: “Workers are weakened if we are divided. So, in order to be effective we need to be genuinely united.
"That means opposing anything which seeks to divide us or undermine unity.
"That is why unions have to oppose and challenge racism, sexism or any other form of discrimination which seeks to target one group of people on the basis of a particular characteristic.”
The union is committed to promoting fairness and equality at work, and is raising awareness of ADAE amongst members, to ensure there is widespread knowledge of what support is available, and what it means for individuals and the union as a whole when one or more of our own are accused of falling short of these principles.
Jamie Newell, regional secretary, Eastern region, says ADAE “shines a light” on the union’s commitment to equality in the workplace, but wants more members to know about what the policy is there to do.
FAIRNESS AND EQUALITY
Fairness and equality are cornerstones of the trade union movement, and what the union strives to achieve for all of its members.
Standing shoulder to shoulder with those who have been at the receiving end of abuse, ADAE supports members to boldly and unequivocally stand up to all forms of discrimination.
Kathryn Duncan, secretary of the national women’s committee, says ADAE is “ground-breaking”.
Harassment or bullying breaches the union’s rules and ADAE makes clear that a member who is accused of bullying or harassment is not automatically represented by the union but can apply to the regional secretary for this representation.
However, many members are not aware of the overall scope of the ADAE policy, and where they are, there is often more focus on the individual who has been accused, whereas discussion should centre on the plight of those being bullied or harassed and the need for mutual respect.
For example, the policy covers what to do when you believe someone is being badly treated and hasn’t spoken out, something many members will recognise.
Annabel Green, women’s education organiser in London, worked with FBU Education to organise an ADAE awareness day for reps from equality sections. Appetites whetted, six are booked on a three-day residential ADAE course.
Tutor Helen Nolan says promoting values is a vital part of the course which also provides a chance for self-scrutiny, encouraging reps to “look at your own actions and accept you have biases.”
There is no place for racism, sexism, homophobia, or discrimination of any kind, in our union
The diversity and unity of our workforce are its strengths, in safety critical environments, the reliance on each other makes standing up for each other a way of life.
There is no place for racism, sexism, homophobia or discrimination of any kind in our union. The ADAE policy is a tool we can, and must, all use to organise around and help tackle and prevent it in our union and our workplaces.
ATTEMPTS TO DIVIDE US
Attempts to divide workers, to get us kicking at each other rather than kicking up at those truly to blame for our struggles, is a tactic we can see used by bosses, rulers and scabs throughout history. It is imperative that we resist this as trade unionists and push back in the strongest way possible against any efforts to disrupt our unity.
ADAE can be found at www.fbu.org.uk/publications/all-different-all-equal
Get in touch with your local rep for further information. The union regularly runs education courses on ADAE, keep an eye out for these in Rollcall and on www.fbu.org.uk/education.
