Alerter Magazine Summer 2007

2007·0.84 MB·English

by  Fire Brigades Union

Alerter
Inside this issue
> Cheshire and

its TRVs
> Wales and a

new FBU team
The magazine of the Fire Brigades Union Retained Members > www.fbu.org.uk Summer 2007
Opportunity
knocks on skills
Editorial
I
t has been a busy first half of the year, and along with
the officials of the National Retained Committee (NRC)
I have been involved in the constant fight to improve
your conditions and ensure that our employers are
implementing in full the national agreements of 2003.
From visiting a number of regions over the past
year it is clear that a large majority of brigades have lacked
consistency in their application of the pay agreement, with
at least one brigade unbelievably paying different rates
dependent on the station location. U
Some brigades are looking at salary schemes or fixed
pay agreements which tend to be made to fit the local pay
bills.
Any new duty systems or remuneration models would B
be a matter for the NJC. The NRC condemns attempts to
introduce any changes which threaten long-term stability
within a section of the fire service deprived of investment F
over the years.
With the introduction of annual leave and the 120-hours
full retainer many stations are under-established. However,
e
Part-time worker status could
have a major impact on firefighters h
working the retained duty system
t
the employers are not prepared to increase the number of
firefighters on stations despite a number of reports relating
d
to recruitment and retention.
legiTshlaet iloeng aisl csatislle n uontd ceorn tchlue d“eleds as nfadv iosu tora bbele h tereaardtm agenaitn” n Paul b
in November this year. Part-time worker status could have ox
a major impact on firefighters working the retained duty Alerter (cid:42)(cid:31)(cid:79)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:36)(cid:84)(cid:74)(cid:69)(cid:86)(cid:66)(cid:70)(cid:77)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:83)(cid:67)(cid:73)(cid:90)(cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:84)(cid:84)(cid:66)(cid:1)(cid:68)(cid:181)(cid:74)(cid:84)(cid:73)(cid:84)(cid:84)(cid:70)(cid:86)(cid:78)(cid:70)(cid:70)
system (RDS). a (cid:31)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:39)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:79)(cid:84)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:73)(cid:79)(cid:84)
The Integrated Personal Development System (IPDS) (cid:53)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:72)(cid:66)(cid:91)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:39)(cid:74)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:35)(cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:66)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:54)(cid:79)(cid:74)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:51)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:70)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:46)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:67)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:31)(cid:1)(cid:88)(cid:88)(cid:88)(cid:15)(cid:71)(cid:67)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:15)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:52)(cid:81)(cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:1)(cid:19)(cid:17)(cid:17)(cid:24)(cid:1)(cid:1)
is three years overdue and was seen as a major part of the
2003 agreement to give RDS staff a method of measuring

their skills and competencies. It has been implemented in
some brigades but in different forms, with most brigades u
having no independent verification process
The ability to transfer between duty systems is a thorny a firefighter is
subject which is raised repeatedly at all levels of the o a firefighter...
union. Unfortunately despite many different approaches (cid:53)(cid:83)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:84)(cid:71)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:1)(cid:88)(cid:73)(cid:80)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:78)(cid:70)(cid:27)(cid:1)(cid:73)(cid:80)(cid:88)(cid:181)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:67)(cid:70)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:1)(cid:69)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:70)(cid:32)(cid:1)
by brigades to address this issue, there is no national
Y
guidance available at this point in time and work is ongoing
at present.
Tam Mitchell, Executive Council Member, Retained
8/2/07 17:27:07
1568_FBU_Alerter_Spring07.indb 1
 Alerter Summer 007
s
4 Campaign news
Pay protection, the
t
campaign to keep open
n
Radlett – and an injured
member gets a big helping
e
hand from the FBU.
t 5 Wales’ new team
n
Salary schemes, IRMPs and
pensions are key issues the
o new team of FBU officials
will be dealing with in the
C region
6 Lifelong learning
Hundreds of retained
members in the South West
of England stand to gain
IT, literacy and maths skills
from a new Union Learning
Fund project
Retained firefighters training
8 Frontline view
– we should be rewarded for
our professional job – and pay
Cheshire members and their
protection is key to this.
See article on page 4 battle against a fire service
on the cheap
Alerter, the magazine for FBU retained members, is
Cover picture: Paul Box
published quarterly. If you are an RDS member of the FBU
Published by the Fire Brigades Union,
and not getting your copy, email Tam Mitchell (thomas.
Bradley House, 68 Coombe Road,
Kingston upon Thames, KT2 7AE .
[email protected]) and we’ll make sure you are added to
Tel: [phone], fax: [phone]
the mailing list. Email your comments on any aspect of the Design by Edition Periodicals, 241-251
Ferndale Road, London SW9 8BJ.
content of the magazine, or any stories you think Alerter www.editionperiodicals.co.uk
Printed by Lookers, 24 Factory Road,
should cover, to [email protected].
Upton, Poole, Dorset BH16 5SL.
Summer 007 Alerter 
CCaammppaaiiggnn nneewwss
Employers must
In short
Patr
ik
Sted honour agreement
r
ak
/Fo
to
lia
pAy protEctIon leading firefighters at the time were
on higher turnout fees, their pay
F
ire authorities are still failing for callouts dropped substantially
to honour their commitments and thus needed to be protected,
made four years ago on pay maintaining NJC increases year on
RDS firefighters play a key role in fire protection for firefighters working year.
cover for Northumberland, protecting
the retained duty system. Fire authorities are failing to
local communities and tourists visiting
Retained firefighters’ pay in the implement this requirement or
landmarks such as Hadrian’s Wall
Sixth Edition of the Conditions of applying it as an average calcula-
≥EC member for retained Tam Mitchell Service is not salaried, but calculated tion over the year. So RDS staff
and National Retained Committee over an identifiable pay period and have been paying for their own
chair Harry Cotter recently visited based on a range of emoluments and pay protection – finance depart-
Northumberland to discuss with
fees relative to their activities and ments have been removing it from
members and local officials current
availability. This is unique in one pay period and applying it to
retained issues in the brigade and the
that every RDS firefighter another, therefore not paying for
north east of England in general, and to
across the country will the reduced period at NJC
report on the activities of the NRC at a
national level in defence of all members have an individual level agreed rates of pay.
working the retained duty system. It was of payment. Says FBU Executive
a productive visit and Tam and Harry A significant factor Council member for RDS
hope to return to the North East again to in the make up of firefighters, Tam Mitchell:
progress and report back on some of the RDS pay today is pay “The pay protec-
issues raised. protection as detailed tion system within
in the June 2003 the 2003 agreement
pay and conditions was not a luxury
agreement. Pay but a requirement
protection is there to maintain the same
to ensure no firefighter increases agreed by the
(in post) would be any NJC over the last three
worse off under the new years.
payment system. “Failure of fire authori-
The employers thought ties to recognise this may
it was unlikely any firefighters result in no pay increase for RDS
would be worse off due to pay parity firefighters, possibly stretching back
being introduced. However, they to before 2003.
failed to recognise only positive “The National Retained
hours – drill hours or extra work – Committee will be making every
would produce an increase in parity. effort to ensure this issue is resolved
Given that the sub officers and to the satisfaction of our members.”
≥RDS firefighter Ray Price has retired FbU steps in with help after ‘no-win, no-fee’ company gets out of its depth
from the fire service following an injury
that failed to heal, and has thus stood
down from his role as retained rep for mEmbEr bEnEFIts ju time employment and as a result was
West Midlands (region 7). The National Stin off work for two years.
A w
Rreectoaridne itds Cthoamnmksit atened w reischoegsn ittoio pnu fto orn nre FtaBinUe dm deumtyb esry swteomrk ihnags the eStwo accHidee nist ndoidw n boatc hka aptp wenor wk.h Bileec ianu tshee t he
o
his work in driving forward RDS issues received around £6,000 from d employ of the fire service, Mr Bedward
in the region and for his substantial the FBU’s Accident and Injury Fund pursued the accident claim legally
contribution to the work of the NRC (AIF) following a serious accident at through a no-win no-fee company that
nationally. Paul Brownhill, a RDS
work. rapidly got out of its depth.
firefighter from Malvern Fire Station
Shane Bedward, who is a Shane Bedward: Out of frustration, he contacted
in Hereford and Worcester, has been
firefighter in Colwyn Bay, North AIF is not just for Alerter magazine for some advice
elected to replace Ray as FBU region 7
Wales, broke his neck while in full- work-related claims and was directed to Thompsons,
retained rep.
 Alerter Summer 007
CCaammppaaiiggnn nneewwss
b
o
r
eh
am
w
o
o
d
tim
eS
LynDon jonES
Wales (Region 8)
Future priorities
Salary schemes, the impact of local
integrated risk management plans and
pensions are among a number of issues
that the new team of FBU retained
officials will be dealing with on behalf
of members working the retained duty
Stephen Oaks-Monger shelters Radlett resident Tim Doaden as he signs the petition
system in Wales.
Keep our fire station open,
Following his election as the new
retained rep for the region in May, Lyndon
Jones will be working closely to advance
7,000 residents tell council work with colleagues in the newly formed
regional retained committee – including
Martin Jones from Conwy Fire Station in
hErtFordshIrE claims that we have an average of five North Wales, who had been acting as the
fires a year. But in the space of two Wales National Retained Committee rep,
c
ampaigners have collected months this year we had four fires. pending the May annual general meeting
nearly 7,000 signatures “I hope they will look into the fact (AGM) of Welsh retained members
The FBU Wales retained committee,
supporting the fight to get that almost every household in Radlett,
elected at the AGM in Builth Wells on
Radlett retained fire station reopened. nearly all the businesses, restaurants,
Saturday 19 May, intend to meet at least
Stephen Oakes-Monger, a member of church leaders, borough and parish
every quarter to discuss all aspects of
Save Our Fire and Rescue (SOFAR), councillors and headteachers, have
RDS issues and dates for the meetings
whose great-grandfather was one signed this petition. will be circulated to branches to
of the village’s first firefighters in “This overwhelming support encourage attendance and participation.
1907, handed the petition in to shows we require a fire station.” Says Lyndon, an RDS firefighter based
Hertfordshire County Council But the county council has refused at Cefn Forrest fire station: “Despite our
headquarters at the end of May. to back down on its decision to close concerns about a number of proposals,
Leader of the council, David the station. Radlett Fire Station was there have also been some important
positive developments as regards RDS
Beatty, was not there to receive permanently closed by Hertfordshire
members in Wales. We hope to build
the petition, so it was given to his County Council last October, despite
on our good working relationships
secretary. a long-running campaign by the FBU g
with senior management to improve
Mr Oakes-Monger said: and local community and offers of
the working conditions of retained
“Hertfordshire County Council funding to keep it open. members and seek the support and
n
FbU steps in with help after ‘no-win, no-fee’ company gets out of its depth rewards they deserve in carrying out the
professional work they do on behalf of
the communities they protect and serve.”
i
the FBU’s solicitors who have been service related claims. I am extremely “We will also ensure that the retained
dealing with the case, which is still grateful to the FBU for the financial f service gets the best possible support at
a regional level by acting as the voice of
ongoing. help they have provided in what has e
RDS firefighters in discussions the FBU
Said Shane Bedward: “Had I been a very difficult time for me. I
has with political representatives in the
known about the full benefits of the would also like to thank Thompsons
Wales Assembly, which recently saw a
i
FBU’s Accident and Injury Fund for for all the ongoing support they are
number of changes in the May elections.
FBU members, I would have gone giving me on my legal claim.” r “It was encouraging to see attendance
straight to the FBU following my was up on previous years at the AGM and
accident. >Want to know more about the AIF or B I look forward to seeing more and more
“I thought, quite incorrectly other benefits of being a member of the members getting active in the Union as
as it turned out, it was just for fire FBU? Visit www.fbu.org.uk we move forward on retained issues.”
Summer 007 Alerter 
lIFElONg lEARNINg
sKiLLs
BOOsT
An FBU Union Learning Fund project
will give hundreds of retained members
opportunities to develop ‘skills for life’
h
undreds of retained firefighters in different and more flexible way. In the future,
the South West of England are to be brigades will be able to offer learning and
given the opportunity to boost their development through ‘blended’ packages
skills and further their education which mix old fashioned taught sessions
thanks to a new lifelong learning with distance learning, and paper exercises
project launched through with learning delivered
the FBU’s Union Learning The new courses follow by multi-media materials
Fund. such as CD-ROMs, DVDs
a very successful pilot
The project, a partner- and the internet.
ship between the FBU, and run at Bath fire station, The idea is for Avon and
Gloucester and Avon fire Gloucester F&RS to be able
Avon, where the retained
and rescue services, will to build on this experience
provide firefighters working crew did IT training and deliver traditional
the retained duty system learning such as Equalities
at the fire station
(RDS) in both brigades with or Leadership in an alto-
“skills for life” – numeracy gether new and exciting and this project, targeted exclusively at RDS
and literacy – through the delivery of a basic way to all firefighters, including those that firefighters, aims to address that balance.
IT course. have traditionally been hard to reach. The result of a successful bid to “Learning
These courses will provide RDS firefighters Retained duty system (RDS) firefighters works for all” (LWfA), a project managed by
with skills that will enable them to learn in a have tended to be short-changed on training the South West TUC on behalf of the South
West of England Regional Development
Agency (SWRDA), the new courses follow a
very successful pilot run at Bath fire station,
Avon where the retained crew did IT training
at the fire station.
A key development in the roll-out of the
project was the appointment of a project
manager Trudi Cox, who has been working
flat out to get things up and running as soon
as possible.
An introductory session kicked off on
June 4 at Cindeford fire station in the Forest
of Dean, Gloucester, where 11 Cindeford
retained firefighters carried out self-assess-
ments on their learning needs. Joining the
The Cindeford firefighters on the evening was Trudi, station
introductory
manager Gareth Clowes, Dave Griffiths, head
session
of training at Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue
 Alerter Summer 007
PIC
TU
R
ES: PA
U
L B
O
X
Trainer
Julie Tench
lends a
hand
business and education: “This first session and continue it as part of their mainstream
went well and I’d like to thank Bev Booth training and development agenda.
from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Bill Hendy, FBU ULF regional co-ordi-
Service, who is my main contact person there nator for the South West, who has been
and Tony Dobbs from the IT department in instrumental in developing the project from
particular for all their hard work helping to the outset, says:
arrange it at Cindeford station. Special thanks “Firefighters working the retained duty
also to Gareth, the station system have long missed
manager for being so ‘Some of the students out on training oppor-
accommodating. tunities, principally on
expressed the desire for
“Some of the students the grounds of cost. This
expressed the desire for the training to fit around project aims to address that
Retained FBU the course to be flexible injustice. We hope RDS
members Andy to ensure the training their work routine, firefighters in Avon and
Fitt, left, and
fits around their work and we are happy to Gloucester will take advan-
Martin Bundy
routine, and we are happy tage of this opportunity to
accommodate that’
to accommodate that, boost their skills, increasing
Service, and lead trainer, Julie Tench from where possible. We want to their chances of advancing
Gloucestershire’s Stroud College, which is the ensure that all the participants in this project their careers and gaining the knowledge that
training provider. benefit.” will help them in the wider world, whether at
Martin Bundy, 49 years old, who has 17 The training was to start proper on 20 work or in the home.”
years service under his belt, was one of the June, and will run on a weekly basis through The FBU’s National Retained Committee
FBU members from Cindeford to attend to September. There is flexibility built into the (NRC) supports the extension of lifelong
this first session of the course: “My wife and course, so any RDS firefighters who miss a learning to retained members, adds Pete
daughter use the computer and I don’t so I class or two can attend a “sweep up” session at Preston, a retained firefighter in Colwyn Bay,
wanted to learn more about IT. I am hoping the end to catch up. Wales, and Secretary to the NRC.
that the course can offer some flexibility so Adds Trudi: “I have high hopes for the “This project is great news for our retained
that I can fit in the training around my work courses we will be running over the coming members. We have for far too long been treated
patterns. months and am currently visiting stations to as second class firefighters with our training
His colleague Andy Fitt, 38, with 17 years encourage other RDS station personnel to and learning needs seriously neglected.
service, and a watch manager at Cindeford take part.” The Union is hoping that at least “This project will help end that disgraceful
also attended: “As a watch manager more and 150 RDS firefighters across both brigades will situation, delivering concrete benefits to
more aspects of my job involve the use of the sign up. firefighters who are the backbone of the fire
Internet. I want a lot more information so I Cindeford and Keynsham, Avon will be service in Gloucestershire and Avon, as we
can do my job better. I think the course will the trailblazers for the project. A further four are in many communities across the UK. I
also help me in my other job.” Andy hopes to retained stations in each brigade will be offered encourage as many RDS members in these
boost his skills using spreadsheets as well as the opportunity to take part in the project over brigades to step forward and participate.”
Microsoft PowerPoint, which he plans to use a 17-month period until October 2008 when
in making presentations. the LWfA funding ends. After that the hope is > More info on the FBU UlF:
Says Trudi, who has a background in that brigades will see the value of this project http://ulf.fbu.org.uk/
Summer 007 Alerter 7
FbU contacts
an
d
r
ew
b
ar
r
et Executive Council Member
Tam Mitchell
[email protected]
07715 994200
Secretary
Pete Preston
[email protected]
07971 086990
Chair
Harry Cotter
[email protected]
07718 637251
ChEShIRE
Region 1
Members reject fire service on the cheap Contact Executive Council Member
Tam Mitchell
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s in and which have to date ensured Region 2
plan was to introduce so-called safe systems of work. Noel Jordan
Targeted Response Vehicles (TRVs) We concluded right from the start [email protected]
– ‘midi’-sized fire appliances, of this campaign that the introduc- 07775 633391
but with only a basic firefighting tion of TRVs was nothing about
Region 3:
capability - and to crew them by community safety and everything
Mick Jones
retained firefighters on a flat rate about savings. And subsequent events
[email protected]
overtime pay. But our RDS members have only confirmed that view. The
07734 871049
have rejected the lure of extra money, FBU has just agreed a new day crewing
putting the health and safety of all system that means day crew firefighters Region 4
Cheshire firefighters, and the safety are now on station during the Rick Arrand
of the communities they serve, first. evenings, including at Winsford and [email protected]
In rejecting this offer of extra work Northwich. Management, knowing 07970 010275
on rates that undercut Grey Book full well that this has cost implications,
Region 5
overtime pay for working time over are now less keen on TRVs.
Miles Parkinson
the contracted 42 hours, our RDS Senior managers have also tried
[email protected]
w members have also defended the pay to sell their TRV plan by saying that
07834 465107
and conditions of all FBU members. by staffing the TRVs, RDS firefighters
The campaign kicked off after would be able to demonstrate compe- Region 6
Cheshire’s draft integrated risk tence in the firefighting elements Contact Harry Cotter/Pete Preston
e
management plan for 2007/8 revealed while greatly improving their
Region 7 (acting)
proposals for two RDS appliances promotion prospects.
Paul Brownhill
i TRVs are nothing about Well, FBU RDS members are [email protected]
having none of it. Previous plans to
v 07764 155 658
community safety and replace the RDS appliance at Audlem
with a TRV and to introduce TRVs Region 8
everything about savings
at Chester, Crewe and Warrington Lyndon Jones
e (second pumps) at Winsford and have been scrapped following FBU [email protected]
Northwich to be changed to TRV resistance. 07952 451 983
status – with only three riders – during But the campaign is not over. One Region 9
n
the evening. They were to respond TRV pilot is live at two adjoining
Kevin Kiddell
to “small fires”, which, it was argued, two-pump stations in Runcorn and
[email protected]
i were on the increase at 3–10pm. But, Widnes that would see firefighter and 07967 041013
what the brigade failed to highlight community safety undermined. Senior
l was that all types of incidents increase management have indicated that they Region 11
t during this period, making it sheer see the vehicles being deployed to John Haizelden
recklessness to slash the availability of car fires, automatic fire alarms and [email protected]
n
fully equipped and properly crewed road traffic collisions, although due to 07717 571726
“structural” appliances. FBU opposition on health and safety Region 12
o Underpinning the drive to use grounds, they are not now pushing Bob Dewis
TRVs was Cheshire’s so-called Risk for them to respond to anything other [email protected]
and Task Analysis. Without any than “small known fires”. 07966 754522
r cross-referencing to Fire Service The FBU will continue our united
Manuals, these risk assessments did campaign to stop this reckless drive Region 13
F
not in any way conform to the tried to create a fire service on the cheap. Leigh Redman
and trusted firefighting procedures Dave Williams [email protected]
that every firefighter has been trained Brigade Secretary 07971 484039
8 Alerter Summer 007