POLITICAL BALLOT
As this magazine lands on doorsteps across the UK, FBU members have just a few more days to vote in the 2024 political fund ballot.
Everything that happens in the fire and rescue service – cuts, pay, pensions, health and safety – is political in one way or another. We need a political fund if we want to campaign effectively on these issues, but the law dictates that we must hold a postal ballot every 10 years.
If you have not already, please find your ballot paper, vote Yes, and get it in the post.
PENSIONS
Over the past two decades, we have campaigned, taken strike action and pursued a series of landmark legal cases to defend pensions in the fire and rescue service and across the public sector. In this edition, we bring you the story of that work.
In the most significant case, the FBU victory won £19 billion in improved benefits for firefighters and other public sector workers.
There are two immediate hooks for reporting on this now. First, we have reason to hope that injury to feelings payments will soon be making their way to members who were part of the relevant claim.
Second, we expect to hear very soon whether the Court of Appeal will reverse the government’s attempts to make pensions scheme members pay some of the costs of discrimination inherent in the mishandling of the 2015 pensions changes.
A lot is at stake.
If our action is successful, millions of workers across the public sector will benefit. We will keep you updated on the outcome, and in time we hope to produce more materials on pensions. The fight goes on.
ANTI-STRIKE LAWS
The Minimum Service Levels Act gives employers the ability to try and force workers to attend work on a strike day. The Westminster government hopes that by passing this law, it can effectively ban strike action in the fire and rescue service.
As we report on page 4, it is discovering that things are not that simple. Governments in Scotland and Wales have already said they will not implement the legislation, and the FBU is running a campaign to get employers in England to commit to do the same.
MATERNITY PAY
Fight for 52, our campaign for 52 weeks’ full-pay maternity leave for women in the fire and rescue service, is continuing to achieve significant results across the UK. Services including the West Midlands, Manchester, Kent, Devon and Somerset, and Royal Berkshire, have all moved towards implementing the demand.
These are major inroads, but we will not stop our campaign until it has become a UK-wide policy, negotiated through the NJC.
We hope to bring you a full update in the next issue of this magazine.
FIREFIGHTERS’ MEMORIAL DAY
On 4 May, we mark Firefighters’ Memorial Day. FBU representatives will attend memorial ceremonies across the UK to commemorate all those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. At 12 noon, we will hold a minute’s silence outside stations and at other places of work.
Please join if you can.
