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Category: FBU Manchester Latest News

FIRE BRIGADES UNION GREATER MANCHESTER

FBU Office, 327 Liverpool Road, Patricroft, ECCLES, M30 8GF

Tel 0161 707 0069 Fax. 0161 707 0074

Brigade Secretary Paul Fogerty - Brigade Chair Gary Keary

All Members

7th December 2011

‘Saveourfireservice’ Campaign

As previously reported we have begun a campaign to highlight to the public of Greater Manchester the negative impact the governments budget cuts are going to have on the level of service we will be able to provide over the next couple of years and beyond. Clearly this is best shown within the brigade’s corporate plan which is currently out for public consultation and due to conclude on 23^rd January 2012. Leaflets have been produced and will be distributed to branches so that members can get involved in the campaign. A website has now been set up www.saveourfireservice.co.uk which also aims to inform the public the impact that these proposals will have on the service and in particular within their local area. I urge all members to get involved in this campaign.

Ridership Levels

One element of the corporate plan is the intention to ride 4’s on all frontline appliances with the exception of Wigan and Rochdale fire stations and as a consequence of the lack of recruitment since December 2009 that is now starting to happen. The FBU both nationally and locally have never agreed to this and have challenged this with management previously and will continue to do so at all levels. Officers have a responsibility for the safety of crews and should ensure that adequate resources are available for all tasks to be completed when following the recognised set down procedures by the brigade. Safety should not be compromised.

Control

Negotiations are ongoing regarding the intention to introduce a new duty system for control. At the same time it is still the intention of this brigade along with Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria to move to a NW Fire Control situated in Warrington in 2014. If this is allowed to go ahead it will have major consequences for our control members and their conditions of service, providing that is they are successful in maintaining a job. There is still no guarantee that the I.T. will work for this project and the FBU still believe that there are questions around its resilience were it to fail. Along with the lack of local knowledge, this will lead to an increase in call handling again impacting on the level of service we can provide to the public. I would encourage all members to offer and show support to our members in control who for too long now have had this issue hanging over their heads.

Day Crewing Plus

The intention to introduce the ‘Day Crewing Plus’ system in GMF&RS for those stations highlighted in the corporate plan has now been deferred to 2013 and so no formal negotiations are likely to take place for the foreseeable future.

Pensions

Along with other members of the FBU who last Wednesday attended a number of picket lines and also took part in the march and rally in Manchester, I can report what a resounding success the day of action was. Despite what the government may have claimed, the action taken that day had a huge impact and if the scenes in Manchester were anything to go by and mirrored elsewhere in the country, it was supported by the majority of the public.

With regards to our own decision not to ballot and participate on the day this brigade was visited by the President of the union and also Sean Starbuck National Officer who is the FBU lead on pensions. The visit was as of a consequence of this brigade’s resolution in asking for the EC to reconvene and reconsider its decision not to ballot.

Sean gave to the Brigade Committee and in-depth account of how the negotiations were progressing with government along with the work that had been carried out by the union as evidence in support of protecting the pensions we currently have.

It was felt by the committee that the visit was useful in explaining the decision taken by the EC not to ballot but both the President and National Officer stated quite clearly that if the negotiations were to fail that the FBU would definitely ballot its members for industrial action in defence of pensions, a stance members in this brigade have already requested.

Implementation New Duty System

Having signed the collective agreement for a new duty system as agreed by the membership on Thursday 1^st December, in line with clause 1.4 which states:

4. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and GMFRS undertake to give their full co-operation to the implementation and maintenance of this agreement. The signed agreement will be brought into effect by a schedule of implementation determined by GMFRS. At the same time, superfluous and corresponding sections of the current rostering for duty agreement implemented in January 2006 will be revoked.

The brigade have now drawn up the implementation schedule which will be phased in with still the intent to move from 5 watches to 4 in April 2012. I am conscious of members wanting to plan for next year and have been insisting to management the need for watch rotas to be published as soon as possible.

When the change to 4 watches takes place there will be an over establishment within the system and therefore it is not intended to implement elements of the proposed corporate plan straight away. It is expected to take nearly 2 years for the establishment levels to reach the intended target.

This office is aware of individuals being asked to select 3 choices of preference where to work. By individuals indicating this, the individual is NOT requesting for a transfer. If individuals wish to transfer that has to be applied for via a Per 7. I have been in contact with AM Brookes regarding this who has subsequently sent further guidance to Borough managers on this issue. If individuals wish to remain where they are currently posted they should indicate that. The process will be carried out as per the Managing Change protocol which is available on the Big Red.

Unity is Strength

Paul Fogerty

Brigade Secretary

All Members 7-12-11
2011-12-08  99.4 KB  62

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