Legal Technicality Puts Back Start of Essex Fire Ballot by Seven Days, but Ballot Closing Date Remains

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Essex fire crews have put back the start of their strike ballot by seven days because of a legal technicality. The Fire Brigades Union has now formally re-served notice of the strike ballot in a dispute over frontline cuts and changes forced through without proper negotiation or agreement.

Only the start of the ballot has changed, the closing date remains in place. The legal timetable governing ballots would typically mean no strike action can take place until 7 days after the ballot closes on 13 June.

The decision was made on legal advice regarding the eligibility of ten FBU members to vote in the ballot. The union put back the start of the ballot to avoid the potential to fall foul of the very strict legal requirements around industrial action ballots.

Essex Fire Brigades Union is still awaiting a positive response to its proposals for third-party assistance in resolving industrial relations issues in Essex. The union has offered to involve both the national fire service conciliators and ACAS under nationally agreed procedures.

The chief officer confirmed to the union that all issues in dispute would continue to be implemented regardless of any talks with ACAS or national fire service conciliators. There continue to be communications between the two sides and with conciliators.

The union says the ballot is necessary because the fire authority is pressing ahead with impositions and plans for further cuts. There have already been major frontline cuts across Essex fire service. Wholetime specialist rescue crews have been removed from Colchester, Harlow, Basildon, Grays and Southend.

Half the wholetime fire engine crews at Brentwood and the wholetime crew from Canvey Island have been cut with more cuts threatened. Meanwhile millions of pounds of tax-payers money continues to be diverted from the frontline service into the HQ property expansion and IT programme.

Mick Rogers FBU brigade secretary said: “We are ready and willing to start resolving these issues within the well-established and nationally agreed procedures. But so long as the fire authority continues to implement the cuts and impose changes we shall continue with our ballot.

“A legal technicality arose which we have had to address after legal advice but that only impacts on the start of the ballot. The rest of the timetable remains and there is more than enough time to resolve the issues between us.

“The authority should be in no doubt as to the resolute determination of their own fire crews on these issues. These issues are not going to go away and need to be addressed.”

***ENDS***

Contact:

Mick Rogers (Brigade Secretary) – 07967 023709
Alan Chinn-Shaw (Brigade Chair – 07967 – 720363
Nick Mayes (Assistant Brigade Secretary) – 07917 065870
Derek Godfrey-Shaw (Regional Official) – 07967 023706

Mid and West Wales Fire Crews Warn That Lives Are at Serious Risk Over Use of Vans to Replace Fire Engines

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Mid and West Wales fire crews have warned managers that lives are at serious risk over plans to replace 14 fire engines with commercial vans carrying a reduced firefighting capability. The vans – adapted Mercedes Sprinters called Rural Response Pumps – don’t have enough water in their tank to put out a fire in a single room in a house.

Fire crews have been told if they are first to arrive at a fire in a van they will have to wait for normal size pumping appliances to arrive before they can enter a burning building, even if people are inside. This could take between 15 and 30 minutes, putting the lives of firefighters and the public at risk.

The union has accused managers of multiple breaches of health and safety legislation and the Welsh Government’s standards on responses to dwelling fires. The union has served a Safety Critical Notice and called for an urgent review.

As well as 9 other stations, the vans will shortly replace proper pumping appliances in Port Talbot, Morriston and Milford Haven all of which have major industrial risks as well as domestic ones. The new vans have only a quarter the water capacity of proper fire engines and a very limited number of hoses.

The FBU Regional Secretary for Wales, Chris Howells, said: “These vans have very limited firefighting capability compared to what they are replacing. They do not have the firefighting capability on board to immediately deploy fire crews into a developed property fire even if people are trapped.

“Fire crews have been told they will have to wait outside a burning building until a proper fire engine arrives with enough water to suppress the fire and start rescues if needs be.”

“When firefighters see people trapped in a burning building they will be under huge pressure to enter and attempt rescues at enormously increased risk. That is why they have to arrive with enough personnel and equipment to take immediate offensive action, not to stand around outside.”

“There will be intolerable pressure on incident commanders leaving them vulnerable if anything goes wrong. These vans do not even have enough water to stop the spread of fire to other buildings.”

“Managers have foolishly stated that you only need half a bucket of water to put out most house fires these days! In 28 years of service I have never been able to put out a house fire with half a bucket of water, it takes far more than that I can tell you. This just goes to show how out of touch with the front line they really are!”

“Fireman Sam would not run Pontypandy fire station like this never mind the whole of Mid and West Wales. This is wrong and there needs to be an immediate review to assess the risks fully and respond to them.”

***ENDS***

Contacts:

Grant Mayos – Region 8 Executive Council Member – 07970 475153
Chris Howells – Region 8 Secretary – 07817 412637

West Mids Fire Crews ‘Dismayed’ Over Moves to Charge Public

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West Midlands Fire Brigades Union says they are ‘dismayed’ at a decision to start charging members of the public for a range of services the fire authority now says are ‘non-emergencies’. The union says the public already pay for a service and don’t expect to be surcharged on top.

FBU Brigade Chair Roger Moore said: “This is another attack on the service we provide to the public in the West Midlands because of the savage cut in funding from the Government. The public already pay for their Fire Service and would not expect to have to pay again.

“So far this year there have been cuts to the number of firefighters on fire stations with the loss of 96 frontline jobs, we have also seen a fire station close. The number of frontline firefighters, fire engines and stations will only reduce further if the Government drives ahead with further cuts in the next 2 years which could amount to around a further £30million pounds.

“We urge the public of the West Midlands to voice their concerns and speak to their politicians and oppose further cuts to frontline firefighting services”.

***ENDS***

CONTACTS:

Emmett Robertson FBU Brigade Secretary 07793 269512
Roger Moore FBU Brigade Chair 07584 608122
Andy Dennis FBU Regional Secretary 07827 300036

Union Hits Out as District Auditor Confirms No Investigation Into Allegations of Financial Irregularities

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The Fire Brigades Union says there is a risk of a cover up of alleged serious financial mismanagement and other practices at Essex fire service after the District Auditor says she will not investigate any allegations prior to 2010. The auditor and the fire authority are refusing to disclose a previous report into financial concerns that continues to be kept secret despite numerous Freedom of Information Act requests.

The union is calling for a robust, transparent and wholly independent investigation into all of the very serious allegations of financial mismanagement and contentious management practices submitted by the union. Included in the allegations are a number of disciplinary cases and staff departures with significant cash pay offs paid for by Essex taxpayers. Baroness Smith of Basildon, local Councillors and journalists have also raised concerns and some have uncovered questionable expenditures through FOI requests.

The District Auditor says she does not have the powers to investigate allegations prior to 2010. The District Auditor has refused an FOI request for a report which touched on some of the allegations and the fire authority has still not complied with a similar request.

The District Auditor wrote to the union and explained: “Further to your request for me to provide you with a copy of the Gillespie report, as outlined in my e-mail of 3 April, I have contacted Essex Fire Authority to obtain their views on whether they would be happy for me to share the report with you. They have confirmed that at the present time they do not feel that it is appropriate for the report to be released.”

Some allegations relate to payments to the chief officer for tiling, curtains and carpets at his private home paid for by the taxpayer. Another relates to payments for an HR consultant which amounted to over £800,000 for just over a year’s work.

The allegations involve some of the most senior figures in Essex Fire and Rescue Service, stretching over many years.

Paul Woolstenholmes, FBU National Officer: “Serious allegations about financial mismanagement have been made and we now need a robust and independent inquiry. We are determined to ensure there is no cover-up.

“According to our sources, the allegations are backed by numerous witnesses whose names were given to the District Auditor but it seems none of these witnesses have even been interviewed. The witnesses include the highest ranks of uniform officers, an HR manager and a manager in the Finance Department – all of whom felt the previous investigation into some of the earlier allegations was flawed.

“None of them were ever given the opportunity to see or be cross-examined on the content of the original investigation report which it seems the fire authority swept under the carpet. According to our sources, these witnesses of good repute are still willing to testify in any new, properly robust and independent investigation.

“Baroness Smith, local councillors, reporters and local MP Eric Pickles have all raised concerns. If the District Auditor cannot or won’t investigate then someone else needs to.

“It is about getting to the bottom of how large sums of public money have been spent, who approved it and who takes responsibility. We feel there are obvious similarities with the MPs’ expenses scandal and the recent conviction of Lord Hanningfield, former head of Essex County Council, for fraudulent expenses claims.

“At first they went to great lengths to try and block the information getting out. Then they claimed the MPs expenses had all been properly scrutinised and paid within the rules.

“In the end, when it was all blown out into the open, public opinion was appalled at the expense claims and the rules. There will be no whitewash in Essex.”

***ENDS***

MEDIA CONTACT:

Paul Woolstenholmes 07739 087070

Duncan Milligan 0208 541 1765

South Yorkshire Fire Crews Raise Major Safety Concerns Over Use of Small Fire Units – Unacceptable Risk to Firefighters and Public

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South Yorkshire fire crews have accused their managers of multiple breaches of health and safety legislation over the imposed introduction of small vans to replace properly equipped and crewed fire engines. The Fire Brigades Union has served a Safety Critical Notice warning them of their liability if a member of the public or a firefighter is injured or killed.

The so-called small fires units are commercial vans painted fire service red with blue lights and high visibility stripes. But that’s where any vague similarity with proper fire engines ends.

They have limited water capacity and only have a crew of 2 or 3 firefighters. The union also has concerns over the use of the breathing apparatus used by firefighters at fires, especially building fires and about how crews are trained.

John Gilliver FBU brigade secretary said: “Fire professionals know that every large fire starts as a small fire and we don’t always know what we will find when we arrive. Firefighters will be put at intolerable risk at incidents if they are deployed in these vans.

“If a small fire has spread to a building with people inside then 2 or 3 firefighters are not enough to deal with that safely. Everything that makes you a firefighter will push you to enter the building even with the greatly heightened risk you will face.

“We face risks in the hostile environments in which we work but we know how to limit the risks to us when there are enough personnel, equipment, proper procedures and training. These small fire units will not provide that.

“It is very difficult trying to tell a firefighter to stand outside a burning building and await a proper fire engine if we think someone is inside and alive when we arrive. We are trained to take offensive action on arrival to save lives where we can.

“These vans mean there will be too few firefighters, greatly increasing the risk to the few firefighters at the scene who will be under pressure to act. It places intolerable pressure on the officers in command at the scene and leaves them vulnerable if anything goes wrong.

“Firefighters have been killed in situations where there is a lack of personnel, equipment and training. This is all entirely foreseeable and the introduction of these vans is wreckless and totally unacceptable.”

***ENDS***

Contact:

John Gilliver 07974 083381

Graham Wilkinson 07977 931225

Essex Frontline Firefighter Cuts Would See One in Five Lost Since 2008 but Backroom Staff Numbers Continue to Rise

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Essex fire crews are warning that one in five frontline crews will have been cut since 2008 if further cuts being demanded by managers go ahead. A report by Chief Fire Officer David Johnson and Finance Director Mike Clayton presented to Councillors on Wednesday 9^th May (paper EFA/ 051/12) confirms 100 full-time fire station based crews have been axed since 2008 with retained ‘on call’ crews cut by 60.

Further cuts now being planned will bring total losses of around one in five frontline firefighters since 2008.

The report also reveals that over the same period backroom staffing has risen by 7.5% – from 238 in 2008 to 256 today. The balance between frontline firefighters and backroom staff now stands at only 3:1. This despite Government pledges by CLG Minister and Essex MP Eric Pickles to protect frontline services as a priority.

The latest budget review shows underspends of £1.6 million on wholetime firefighters, £206,000 on retained and £136,000 on control firefighters. According to the budget review, tabled on 9 May, “the main areas where expenditure exceeded the most recent forecast are in ICT….”

Mick Rogers FBU Brigade Secretary said: “Once again we are seeing the frontline targeted for further cuts despite their being a budget underspend on all frontline crews and millions being spent on the corporate expansion at HQ. The current round of cuts would mean even fewer firefighters spread more thinly across Essex.

“Essex fire authority simply cannot go on targeting the frontline for further cuts. The cuts would inevitably put the safety of the public and the remaining fire crews at increased risk.

“There is genuine anger among the frontline crews about what is happening. The fire authority should be in no doubt about the strength of feeling on this issue or about the outcome of a strike ballot.

“I would urge them to take the time available to reconsider their priorities. They should not stick their heads in the sand, the real concerns of professional frontline crews are not going away.”

***ENDS***

Contact:

Mick Rogers (Brigade Secretary) – 07967 023709

Alan Chinn-Shaw (Brigade Chair – 07967 – 720363

Nick Mayes (Assistant Brigade Secretary) – 07917 065870

Essex Fire Crews Give Seven Days’ Notice of Strike Ballot

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Essex fire crews have given formal legal notice of a strike ballot in a dispute over frontline cuts and changes forced through without proper negotiation or agreement. The legal timetable governing ballots would typically mean no strike action can take place until 7 days after the ballot closes on 13 June.

Essex Fire Brigades Union is awaiting a positive response to its proposals for third-party assistance in resolving industrial relations issues in Essex. The union has offered to involve both the national fire service conciliators and ACAS under nationally agreed procedures.

The union says the legal notices and ballot timetable still leaves more than enough time for detailed talks to resolve the dispute but warns the ballot is necessary because the fire authority is pressing ahead with impositions and plans for further cuts. There have already been major frontline cuts across Essex fire service. Wholetime specialist rescue crews have been removed from Colchester, Harlow, Basildon, Grays and Southend.

Half the wholetime fire engine crews at Brentwood and the wholetime crew from Canvey Island have been cut with more cuts threatened. Meanwhile millions of pounds of tax-payers money continues to be diverted from the frontline service into the HQ property expansion and IT programme.

Mick Rogers FBU brigade secretary said: “Essex fire crews have suggested a way forward to resolve the issues in dispute. But cuts and imposition of changes have left us with no alternative but to start balloting for strike action.

“The legal timetable for ballots is such that there is more than enough time to resolve the issues between us. Any potential strike action is some way off.

“I would urge the fire authority to respond positively to our proposals to broker an agreement using the nationally agreed procedures rather than ploughing on regardless. They should be in no doubt as to the resolute determination of their own fire crews on these issues.”

The Fire Brigades Union has set out the details of the dispute in full in a letter to the fire authority so they can be in no doubt as to what the issues are.

***ENDS***

Contact:

Mick Rogers (Brigade Secretary) – 07967 023709

Alan Chinn-Shaw (Brigade Chair – 07967 – 720363

Nick Mayes (Assistant Brigade Secretary) – 07917 065870

Firefighters Thank Barnet and Camden Voters for Electing Andrew Dismore and Booting out Brian Coleman

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Firefighters are thanking Barnet and Camden voters for electing Andrew Dismore to replace the disastrous Brian Coleman. Coleman was Boris Johnson’s appointee as chair of the London Fire Authority, a position which also propelled him into a key role in the fire service nationally.

Coleman championed fire service privatisation in London and across the fire service.

Matt Wrack, FBU General Secretary said: “We congratulate Andrews Dismore on his election. Firefighters from across the UK would like to thank the voters of Barnet and Camden for booting out Coleman.

“Firefighters are as glad to see the back of him as his former constituents are. London firefighters in particular will now be hoping for a fresh start for industrial relations in the London fire service.”

***ENDS***

Media contacts 07736 818100

Essex FBU – Union Condemns Fire Chief’s Comments as a Bungling Attempt to Scupper Talks

MEDIA RELEASE

Essex Fire Brigades Union says no final decision has been taken to commence a ballot for industrial action in the Essex fire service. It has condemned the chief fire officer’s statement to the contrary as inaccurate and a bungling attempt to scupper possible talks and provoke a strike.

At the very time the chief officer issued his statement yesterday, FBU officials had been making behind the scenes approaches to national fire service conciliators and to ACAS about the potential for talks to avoid the need for a ballot. This after the union’s repeated offer over the last two years to bring in the national fire service conciliators (NJC Joint Secretaries) had been repeatedly rejected by Mr Johnson.

On Tuesday this week the FBU formally requested the fire authority’s joint agreement to approach both the national fire service conciliators and ACAS to assist with talks organised within the established protocols. The answer came back in the form of Mr Johnson’s unhelpful and provocative media statement.

Mick Rogers, FBU Brigade Secretary said:“There has been hard work put in behind the scenes to try and resolve our current dispute and avoid the need for a ballot over continued frontline cuts and impositions. We’ve had highly sensitive talks around the possibility of using appropriate conciliators to try and broker a deal to resolve the issues between us.

“The FBU has not made any final decision to ballot and contrary to the chief officer’s statement, the FBU General Secretary, Matt Wrack, has not confirmed to anyone the outcome of a final decision that has not yet been taken. We and others have been working very hard behind the scenes to reach agreement on a way forward using the agreed processes we are all signed up to.

“Once again, Mr Johnson’s approach seems to be sending very clear signals that he is not serious about reaching agreement and remains hell-bent on confrontation. His comments are provoking fire crews across Essex and they are increasingly demanding a further ballot for industrial action although no final decision has yet been made.

“The intervention and its timing appear to us to be a bungling attempt to scupper talks and provoke strike action. They are unwelcome and unhelpful.

“Essex fire crews have been very patient, but their patience is running out. Senior union officials will spend the rest of today focusing on finding a way forward before final decisions are taken. “

***ENDS***

Contact:

Mick Rogers (Brigade Secretary) – 07967 023709
Nick Mayes (Assistant Brigade Secretary) – 07917 065870
Adrian Clarke 07917 017713
Keith Handscomb 07730 435633

Fire Service Will be “Unfit For Purpose” if Cuts Go Ahead Firefighters Warn Local MPs

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A dozen firefighters from across Wiltshire are travelling to Westminster on Tuesday 17 April to warn local MPs plans to slash £1.8 million from the Fire Authority budget would render the county’s fire service “not fit for purpose” and could cost lives.

The controversial cuts package, put forward by the County’s Chief Fire Officer, is now out to consultation. It includes plans to cut frontline firefighting, spreading appliances more thinly around the county and reducing specialist emergency medical equipment. 

Brent Thorley, Wiltshire Brigade Secretary, said: “MPs want to serve their constituents. They need to know what could happen in their own back yard if these cuts go ahead.

“We are firefighting professionals and can see the risks. It’s our job to alert MPs and councilors to what’s at stake. These cuts threaten to have a devastating impact on Wiltshire Fire and Rescue’s ability to serve communities.”

The key concerns are over:

• Cuts to ‘on call’ retained firefighters which could see the loss of one in three full time equivalent posts.
• Plans to cut 30 whole time firefighter posts, one in six frontline posts;
• Cutting the number of aerial appliances (for use in buildings over 3 floors where fire engine ladders can’t reach) from two to one
• Removal of four emergency tenders used at road traffic incidents and building collapses. They carry specialist medical equipment.

The FBU delegation has fixed up a meeting with Justin Tomlinson, MP for North Swindon, at the Westminster lobby and Robert Buckland, MP for Swindon South, hopes to be able to meet the firefighters.

The union is also urging all Wiltshire MPs to sign an Early Day Motion calling for “fair” central government grants to reflect the contribution fire services across the South West make to dealing with major UK incidents and building national resilience.

***ENDS***

Contact:

Brent Thorley, Wilts Brigade Sec; 07795623223 e-mail; brent.thorley@fbu.org.uk
Steve Garraway, Wilts Brigade Organiser; 07967586499 e-mail; steve.garraway@fbu.org.uk

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