Emergency resolution: Structures of our union to address challenges and workload

Conference notes that the Fire Brigades Union has been the independent union for firefighters, which includes control members, in the UK for almost a century. It has been the irreplaceable organisation firefighters have built to develop our fire and rescue service, to campaign on pay, pensions and conditions of service and to provide firefighters with a professional and political voice. 

The goal of the FBU is to maintain and strengthen ourselves as an independent union. In the current situation this means above all, protecting and developing our workplace organisation and our National structures and ensuring that they have the support and resources for the workload that is needed to be completed. 

1. Developing our Organisation for the challenges ahead

Conference agrees that the FBU has a duty to organise all those employed in the provision of firefighting, rescue or related services to best defend all our members, strengthen our negotiating position and our cohesion in industrial disputes. However our membership is not immune to the downward pressure of cuts and anti-union practices. 

The downward pressure on jobs has inevitably meant that the union has had to adapt industrially, organisationally and financially. Both Conference and the Executive Council have taken various steps to adapt to changes in our industry and to make organisational and structural changes when necessary. We have already made changes to the number of Full-Time National Officer positions by taking the decision at special Conference 2012 to reduce from four to three.

Whilst these changes have put the FBU on a more secure financial footing and the union’s finances are more stable and more robust than previously, the situation has arisen that one National Officer retired in February 2017 and leaves the union in the position, where in line with Conference policy, Head Office should run an election. Conference delegates were unaware of this development at the time of submitting resolutions and so could not make an informed decision at the time.

Head Office cannot afford to leave itself unable to function and complete necessary work set by Conference. Workload can only become greater in the immediate future due to further government attacks. Conference is committed to maintaining the FBU as an independent and financially sustainable Trade Union fit to represent and actively pursue the best interests of our members

2. Recommendations 

Conference notes that due to the recent retirement of one of the three National Officers and with no proposals being brought to Conference 2017 by the Executive Council to address the workload of the third National Officer role, Conference demands the following;

1. Union structure – the Executive Council should conduct a full review of the Union’s structures to identify efficient and democratic arrangements to ensure suitable representation and organising for the present and future needs of the membership. The review should be presented to Conference 2018.

2. National Officers – the Executive Council should conduct a further review into the role and function of the Full-Time Officials (General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary and National Officers) to see whether the current arrangements are the best and most cost effective available. While this review is conducted, elections for National Officers already in place should be further suspended. 

3. In the interim whilst we only have two National Officers in post, Head Office should look to secure trade union release for an individual to carry out the role of Temporary National Officer and this should remain in place until Conference has made a decision on the future structure of the union.

4. A further report shall be provided to members before Conference 2018 dealing with the above points, including Executive Council recommendations as appropriate. This report will set out the research methodology, terms of reference, findings and costings of all reviews and trials completed.

5. Rules – that in each of the areas identified above if recommendations for change are brought then the Executive Council shall bring the necessary rule changes to Conference 2018.