Discrimination and women in the UK fire and rescue service

Conference is disgusted at the treatment some of our women members in the UK Fire
and Rescue Services (FRS) have experienced and continue to experience.
Since the coalition Government came to power and abolished equality targets, we
have seen an increase in discrimination and unwanted behaviour towards our women
members.

Our women members have been forced to raise grievances or pursue complaints over
pregnancy discrimination, bullying and harassment, sexual harassment and sexual
discrimination.

With no national FRS recognition or cohesive strategy to support women in the
menopause, and little or no opportunity for support such as flexible working, to assist
women at key times in their working lives, the only option for some women is to leave
the FRS.

In order to highlight, challenge and provide evidence of such unacceptable practices,
a database is required that has the ability to record and collate all the employment
difficulties our women members may encounter.

We therefore instruct, with immediate effect, that the Executive Council with the
assistance of head office set up a system for recording and collating discriminatory
cases and practices across the UK Fire and Rescue Service. The results should be
included in the FBU’s report to Conference and be provided to the FBU National
Women’s Committee annually so that we have evidence based information to present
to our employers to use as a lever for change in equality practice.