FiReControl scenario? Grandmother died of blood clot ‘after sat nav sent ambulance to wrong village’

FiReControl is heavily dependent on new technologies and software yet to be created, established or tested. The theory of FiReControl is that fire appliances (fire engines) will be sent and guided using satelite navigation, within the region, including cross border/county. However, the theory is all very well but the reality may not be quite so good for the safety of the public or Firefighters. Everyone knows the limitations of satelite navigation, but unfortunately in emergency situations such limitations will endanger lives. As the reported incident shows below, the possibility of fire appliances being guided to incorrect addresses as a result of the limitations of the FiReControl project ethos could have fatal consequences. Firefighters and Fire…

Retained Firefighters: Pension Settlement Update

CIRCULAR: 2010HOC0317MW 07 May 2010 TO: ALL RETAINED BRANCHES Cc: Brigade Secretaries Dear Brother/Sister, RETAINED FIREFIGHTERS: PENSION SETTLEMENT UPDATE FBU officials and representatives of Thompsons Solicitors have been in negotiations with representatives of the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG) trying to reach a negotiated settlement that could be recommended to members as a settlement to the issue of firefighters working the Retained Duty System gaining access to the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme. A report was given to the Executive Council at their meeting held on 21st and 22nd April 2010 and a full discussion took place on the negotiations to date. Regular reports have been given to the Executive Council and further meetings have…

FiReControl and recent Government Announcements

CIRCULAR: 2010HOC0348AD 26 May 2010 TO: ALL MEMBERS Dear Brother/Sister, FIRECONTROL AND RECENT GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS Members will be aware of various reports issued by government departments at Westminster, which refer to the government’s consideration of the FiReControl Project and regionalisation more generally. Similarly, a number of members and officials have received what appears to be, positive assurances from their Member of Parliament. Whilst we all hope that common sense will prevail, at this time no definite decision has been made whether to proceed with the project as it stands; to delay the current project; to modify the project progress with an alternative; or of course, to cease the project entirely and to maintain the current…

Regionalisation of Emergency Fire Controls – Letter to Prime Minister David Cameron

CIRCULAR: 2010HOC0336MW 14 May 2010 TO: ALL MEMBERS Dear Brother / Sister REGIONALISATION OF EMERGENCY FIRE CONTROLS – LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER Members will be aware from our long running lobbying and campaigning that the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties have both expressed very clear opposition to the Regionalisation of Fire Controls in England. The two parties now form the new Government. Attached is a letter to the Prime Minister seeking a commitment from the Government to honour the pledges made on this issue prior to the election; the text of the letter also appears below. Yours fraternally MATT WRACK GENERAL SECRETARY  Download the letter to the Prime Minister as a PDF Text of letter…

Pay Claim 2010

CIRCULAR:  2010HOC0316MW 05 May 2010 TO: ALL MEMBERS Dear Brother / Sister PAY CLAIM 2010 Members will be aware that the Union’s position on pay has been to seek a long-term formula such as existed prior to 2002. This would avoid the potential of difficulties arising in relation to annual pay bargaining and would provide the stability which we think is necessary for delivering a first-class Fire and Rescue Service. Regrettably the Fire and Rescue Service Employers have consistently rejected such an approach. The Executive Council has given consideration to the issue of pay for 2010. This has included consultation with Brigade, Regional and Sectional Committees. Following this discussion it was agreed to submit a…

TUC BRIEFING ON THE EQUALITY ACT 2010

Equality Act 2010 Equality Act 2010 Received Royal Assent on 8 April 2010 218 clauses and 28 schedules Main purpose of the Act: 1.  To harmonise the existing discrimination law to create a single approach (consolidating 9 pieces of legislation) and; 2.  To strengthen the law to support progress on equality Key Concepts The Act provides protection from “prohibited conduct” which includes: direct discrimination (including combination discrimination) indirect discrimination; harassment and; victimisation Because of a characteristic which is protected. The ‘protected characteristics’ covered by the Act are age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. N:B  The extent of protection available under the Act…

General Election and Regional Control Centre’s

On Thursday this week FBU members will be casting their votes in what’s being billed as one of the closest ever General Elections. Members will quite rightly be looking to vote for a party which will protect their own interests.  One subject which has been raised during debates on stations is the Conservative Partys pledge to “Scrap regional Control Centres where they have not gone live”.  This has been quoted by all Conservative MP’s in response to FBU members written concerns, including by David Cameron. This has given members a clear ‘local’ (single) reason for choosing a political party to vote for.  However the regional office is in possession of  a letter from Stewart Jackson MP, the…

British Airways Cabin Crew Dispute – speech by BASSA/Unite at FBU Conference, April 2010

British Airways Cabin Crew Dispute – speech by BASSA/Unite at FBU Conference, April 2010 Officers AGM/Seminar 2010 and CSNC AGM/Seminar 2010, held at Wortley Hall, Wortley, Sheffield, Yorkshire, 14th-15th April 2010. Guest speech from a volunteer for BASSA/Unite, Penny White, for a joint session of the Officers and CSNC, discussing the ongoing BA Cabin Crew dispute British Airways Management, along with the associated BA Cabin Crew strike action. A revealing speech, which cuts through some of the myths and spin of the media, press and British Airways. Related links: BASSA Unite British Airways FBU Wortley Hall

ESSEX FIRE DISPUTE – UNION CALLS TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF INDUSTRIAL ACTION

At 9pm this evening (Thursday 29th April 2010), union reps from fire stations across Essex agreed to recommend the temporary suspension of industrial action for 21 days in which their union negotiators will seek to bottom-out a deal with fire chiefs that could bring the long-running dispute to an end. FBU general secretary, Matt Wrack, has supported that recommendation which will take effect tomorrow when he issues a circular to all Essex FBU members to immediately suspend their industrial action until further notice. Essex fire crews and fire officers have been taking industrial action short of strike for over 8-months in a dispute about cuts in frontline firefighters and 999-services and other issues. Recent talks…

Thanks for re-election and an appeal for unity

CIRCULAR: 2010HOC0303MW 28 April 2010 TO: ALL MEMBERS Dear Brother / Sister THANKS FOR RE-ELECTION AND AN APPEAL FOR UNITY I would like to express my thanks at being re-elected as General Secretary. It has been a huge honour to hold this position for the past five years. Having stood for re-election on my record, I am extremely pleased and proud that members have given me a mandate to serve for a second term. I wish to particularly thank the wide layer of officials and activists throughout the Union who campaigned on my behalf. The future of our Service The past five years have been among the most difficult ever faced by our Union. Under…