Steve Godward: A Great Victory For All Of Us
CIRCULAR 2011HOC0142MW
22 March 2011
TO: ALL MEMBERS
Dear Brother/ Sister
One of the longest running miscarriages of justice in Fire Service history has finally been resolved. West Midlands member, Brother Steve Godward, has finally won full reinstatement, back pay and full pension rights from the West Midlands Fire Service.
Steve was suspended from duty on 13 November 2002 following allegations relating to the strike which was due to start that evening as part of the Union’s pay campaign. In December 2002, Steve was dismissed following a disciplinary hearing and an appeal to the Fire Authority was unsuccessful.
However, Steve’s case was heard under the 1985 Discipline Regulations (abolished in 2004) and these allowed a further appeal to the Secretary of State. Steve’s was the last appeal heard under the old regulations. In 2004, John Prescott, the Minister considering the case, upheld Steve’s appeal and ordered reinstatement.
Disgracefully, rather than accepting the decision and reinstating Steve, the West Midlands Fire Service launched a Judicial Review of the appeal decision. They also refused to reinstate Steve as was required under the processes in the Discipline Regulations.
This process resulted in a further delay and an agreement by the Government’s Treasury solicitor to reconsider the appeal, although this was outside the Regulations. When this further appeal was eventually considered, Steve was again successful as Fire Minister Jim Fitzpatrick again ordered reinstatement. Yet again, West Midlands Fire Service refused to comply despite numerous attempts to negotiate with them by officials of the Union.
It is therefore a huge relief to Steve and his family that the employer has finally agreed that employment has indeed been continuous since 2002. Full back pay and pension rights have been restored and Steve is now able to move on with his life. This is a remarkable result after such a long and difficult political and legal campaign.
Throughout this period the FBU has represented and supported Brother Godward on the basis that the Union always believed he had been victimised as a result of his trade union activities. I am sure all FBU members will now join me in wishing Steve and his family best wishes for the future.
Those in the upper echelons of the West Midlands Fire Service, who deliberately flouted recognised procedures (disciplinary rules established under statute) have brought shame on themselves and have undermined any belief in ‘fair treatment’ in the Fire Service. They have wasted hundreds of thousands of pounds of public money on useless and ill-considered legal processes and they have clearly and deliberately victimised an employee for more than eight years.
At the end of it all, they have completely failed. This is a victory for Brother Godward, for the FBU and for justice.
Best wishes.
Yours fraternally
MATT WRACK
GENERAL SECRETARY
MW/sll
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