The country’s second largest fire service has approved maternity leave of 52 weeks on full pay. West Midlands brigade secretary Sasha Hitchins reports
West Midlands Fire Service, the second largest in the country, announced on 3 October that its strategic enabling team had approved 52 weeks full pay for employees on maternity and adoption leave.
Paternity leave was increased from one to two weeks with full pay. This was a momentous and significant move and our members are, quite rightly, very happy with the proposal.
While conversations around the issue had been taking place for a number of years, the assistance of the FBU Fight for 52 campaign, helped refocus our own efforts in bringing it to the table.
We are seeing other services move significantly too, which again is positive – but our fight will not cease until we achieve 52 weeks’ maternity pay for all, in all fire and rescue services
Coupled with grievances relating to maternity issues, that had been successful, it ensured that the topic was raised almost on a monthly basis.
Following the brigade announcement, formal consultation has now begun. There are a number of queries that are still to be decided, including the switching over from an old policy payment system, to a new one.
We are working with the brigade to ensure that this is done as fairly as possible.
We are aware that two individuals on maternity or adoption leave at the same time cannot receive differing amounts based purely on their due date. We remain hopeful that this can be addressed.
We are also seeking an increase to the paternity provision from two to four weeks’ full pay.
One of the significant outcomes of a study conducted by childcare provider Koru Kids and the Fatherhood Institute research and consultancy organisation, was that eight in 10 parents feel that unequal maternity and paternity policies reinforce traditional gender stereotypes, encouraging the mother to take on a homemaking role, while the father returns to work.
Enhanced maternity support (paternity) pay is crucial to ensure that this limited leave opportunity is taken up by partners of mothers or partners of the “primary” adopters.
The original intention behind paternity leave was to provide support for the mother immediately after the birth but society is changing. There is more emphasis on shared parental responsibility and there is also evidence (in Sweden and the US) that children thrive better with the early involvement of both parents. However, in the UK, mothers continue to shoulder the majority of the caring responsibilities, including for a new-born baby.
While the West Midlands news is very exciting and will make a huge difference financially to members, we will still be striving for absolute excellence.
“This is a fantastic result for members in the West Midlands, for which we applaud the efforts of the brigade representatives and the local women’s committee,” said FBU assistant general secretary Ben Selby.
“We are seeing other services move significantly too, which again is positive – but our fight will not cease until we achieve 52 weeks’ maternity pay for all, in all fire and rescue services”.
