Private companies within the fire and rescue service

Conference is deeply concerned at the increasing trend by a number of Fire and Rescue
Authorities who employ private companies within their own authority to offset the pressures of
austerity placed upon them by the Government. These companies are now an everyday part of
the Fire and Rescue Service and are used by Fire Authorities to provide for example; buildings,
vehicles and training. They often employ members of the Fire and Rescue Service to deliver the
service they provide.

Therefore Conference instructs the Executive Council to produce an information document on
the ever-increasing use of private companies within the Fire and Rescue Service.
The purpose of this document will be to inform the Members of the Fire Brigades Union of
the dangers of such companies within the Fire and Rescue Service in terms of privatisation
where the motivation will be purely profi t orientated without any public accountability, and to
remind Members that when working for these companies they will not be working for the Fire
and Rescue Authority but will be employed by the private company and therefore may not be
covered for any subsequent illness, injury or disciplinary action encountered while undertaking
employment for a private company.