Equality strategy, engagement at all levels

LGBT members recognise the representations that have been made to DCLG and the
English Fire Minister in relation to the need to have a strategy for equality and diversity
and engagement with the necessary stakeholders. LGBT members are disappointed
by the dismissive responses from previous English Fire Ministers yet note the letter
sent to Chief Fire Officers from Fire Minister Penny Mordaunt titled ‘Upholding the
values of the Fire and Rescue Service’, in which she raises concerns about the issue
of bullying and harassment and the need to uphold and reinforce the values of the
service.

Our Union has a proud history of our commitment to equality and promotion of
fairness at work and our equality sections have been at the forefront of this issue. We
applaud the efforts of our officials to challenge the lack of commitment from DCLG
but believe it would be harder for them to dismiss a discussion on failures by the
service to address LGBT inequality if they were speaking directly to an official who is
LGBT and elected by LGBT members to represent them. We further note that the Fire
Minister Penny Mordaunt met with officials from our Women’s Committee and that she
did take note of the input they gave. However post that meeting further discussions
mentioned by the Fire Minister would be taking place with Networking Women in the
Fire Service. We also have identified that the English Fire Ministers have been having
regular meetings with the Asian Fire Service Association. At present there is also
discussion of the establishment by CFOA of an LGBT Network.

LGBT members are concerned that the democratically established and accountable
equality structures of the union are being bypassed by government for consultation
purposes around issues of equality. With the General Election being imminent we
believe there may be opportunity to get our sections back leading on issues of
equality. For this to occur our equality section reps, in conjunction with head office,
need the ability to directly challenge DCLG and the Fire Minister on issues affecting
the members they represent. LGBT members call on Conference to endorse a
position that equality officials should be utilised directly in the challenging of DCLG
and the English Fire Ministers failure with regards equality in the English Fire Service.