Equality And Diversity

This Conference condemns the difficulties that Government economic policy has placed upon the Fire and Rescue Service’s (FRS) ability to recruit new staff. We also condemn the current Government policy that has seen the equality and diversity agenda downgraded. Despite this, we still need to ensure that the UK FRS continues to employ a workforce that represents the communities we serve. The Equality Act 2010 supplements all existing anti-discrimination laws, and the FBU needs to have a coherent strategy in place to make sure that: ● All our reps and officials who represent on equality issues understand the Equality Act 2010 and receive the appropriate training; ● There is an FBU procedure in place in every FRS to ensure that the Act is being complied with; ● Our Union continues to place equality and diversity high on the agenda at every level in every FRS; ● Our Union continues to demand that every FRS commits to the local recruitment targets for Black & Minority Ethnics that were agreed in the last Communities and Local Government Equality and Diversity Report (2009).