Since the last issue of Firefighter, the FBU has held our annual conference and firefighters have voted to accept a pay settlement.
Before the next issue is published, the UK will have a new government.
Since 2010, the fire service has lost one in five firefighter jobs and 30% of its central government funding. Our pay and pensions have been attacked as never before. On 4 July, we have an opportunity to kick the Tories from office.
In England and Wales, the FBU is affiliated to the Labour party. We have many criticisms of Keir Starmer: on fire policy, on strikes, public spending, public ownership, Gaza, refugee rights and more. But as an affiliated union, we can push and challenge Labour through its democratic structures.
As I set out on pages 10/11, the FBU has pushed hard for the Labour manifesto to contain pledges on the anti-union laws, national standards for the fire service, and on collective bargaining for workers.
We must hold Labour’s feet to the fire to see these promises delivered.
No poll matters other than the election itself. If you want to get rid of the Tories, you must vote.
CONFERENCE
FBU annual conference brought together delegates from every brigade in the UK for three days of discussion and debate about our strategy and policy.
It was also an honour to host guest speakers from as far afield as Colombia, and to present this year’s Solidarity Medals. On pages 12/13, you can read all about this year’s proceedings in Blackpool.
PAY
On 17 May, the week before our conference opened, FBU members voted to accept a pay settlement.
From July, all firefighters and control staff will receive a 4% boost to their pay. There will also be a new UK-wide minimum of 26 weeks’ full-pay maternity leave. And from the beginning of 2025, RDS firefighters will see a substantial increase in their retaining fee, the first such increase in decades.
These are big achievements and are possible only because of the hard work and collective strength of FBU members. Read page 4 for full details.
HEAD OFFICE
The FBU’s head office has been based in Kingston upon Thames since the 1980s. I’m pleased to report that, in the coming months, we will be moving to new premises in Vauxhall in central London. Being closer to transport links, other unions and organisations, and to Westminster will make us more effective in fighting for members and will make it easier for members and officials to travel to head office from outside London.
FAREWELLS
Several key individuals are leaving the FBU this summer. Les Skarratts and Cerith Griffiths, the executive council members for the North West and Wales, are retiring. Four valued and long-serving members of staff – Jo Huggins, Anna Zych, Jan Ross and Birute Samsanaviciene – will also be departing. And so is Pat Carberry, who has been leading the fight for LGBT+ liberation in the fire and rescue service since the 1980s (see pages 16/17).
On behalf of the union, I would like to thank all of them and wish them the best of luck with whatever comes next.
