Wholetime/retained contracts

Conference condemns the practice of Fire Authorities and service management utilising
secondary contracts for Wholetime Duty System (WDS) fi refi ghters to increase the availability
levels of Retained Duty System (RDS) appliances and using this improved availability as
justifi cation to make cuts within the service.

Conference instructs the Executive Council to investigate and report on the impact of wholetime
fi refi ghters carrying out retained duties as part of a secondary contract, where there is no
mandatory contractual arrangement to do so, at fi re stations with both wholetime and retained
appliances.

Once complete the Executive Council will make recommendations, based on its fi ndings, as
to how the Fire Brigades Union will both undergo further work to resist this practice and will
organise to challenge any cuts proposed as a result. All work and recommendations to be
completed by Conference 2018.