Control Regionalisation

Conference remains implacably opposed to the CLGs FireControl regionalisation project for Emergency Fire Control Rooms in England. We believe that this project, which is being forced through at enormous expense in the face of widespread opposition, will: ● Not result in the savings being claimed; ● Result in reduced call-handling capacity and resilience; ● Impact upon the safe and efficient mobilisation and control of fire appliances, personnel and equipment; ● Lead to a worse service for the people of England; ● Lead to a loss of jobs for Firefighter (Control) FBU members; ● Still leave much work currently completed by Brigade Controls be carried out by individual Brigades. We will continue to campaign against this project at every opportunity and to expose the misleading claims of the CLG. Conference applauds the decision of the Scottish Government not to centrally reduce the number of Emergency Fire Controls in Scotland. However, we note that the Westminster Government remains wholly committed both politically and financially to the FireControl Project and that the nine Regional Control Centre buildings are all either at an advanced stage of construction or have been completed. We also note that Directors and other staff have now been recruited for the new Local Authority Controlled Companies (LACCs) required to run the Regional Control Centres. Further, we note that Brigades in the South West region have now written (in March 2008) to the FBU giving advanced notification of consultation on proposed redundancies. We totally condemn the issue of these notices and the manner in which these letters were sent, without any forewarning or consultation with FBU Officials, either locally or nationally. That is not an acceptable way to treat loyal, hard working and professional Emergency Fire Control Staff. The primary objective of the FBU continues to be to defend the jobs, pay and working conditions of its members. That remains the case even if this misguided project proceeds. To that end, the Executive Council, in conjunction with the Control Regionalisation Advisory Group (CRAG) and the Control Staff National Committee (CSNC) have adopted a “twin-track” approach whereby, in addition to campaigning against the Regionalisation project, we have been taking the necessary steps to ensure that no FBU member is made compulsorily redundant and that staff in any Control Rooms are employed on Grey Book conditions, with FBU recognition. In the event of the Westminster Government forcing the project through unabated then the minimum aims of the FBU must be to secure: ● Guarantees of no compulsory redundancy for any FBU member, to be achieved primarily through continued employment performing “out of scope” fire control functions or redeployment, supplemented by the use of voluntary severance or early retirement if this is necessary; ● NJC Grey Book conditions as a minimum including FBU recognition for all staff required to work in the proposed Regional Control Centres. Therefore Conference instructs the Executive Council, Regional Committees and Brigade Committees to use all means available to pursue these aims, including such industrial action as may be appropriate.