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South Yorkshire

26/01/10

FIRE BRIGADES UNION

IMMEDIATE RELEASE 26 January 2010

SOUTH YORKSHIRE FIRE DISPUTE –UNION TEMPORARILY SUSPENDS ALL INDUSTRIAL ACTION

South Yorkshire FBU will not be proceeding with the eight day strike which was due to start on 27 January after the fire authority agreed to refer a dispute over shift changes to national arbitration. All other industrial action has also been temporarily suspended.

Ian Murray FBU regional secretary said: “The fire authority accepted our proposals to involve the national employers and union representatives. Shift change and related issue will be referred to national arbitration and the strike action scheduled to start tomorrow will not now go ahead.

“It is important this process is followed with a commitment by both sides to seek resolution. This is a real opportunity for us to reach an agreement to end this long running dispute and in doing so avoid the need to continue with the industrial action.”

Regional and local media contacts: Ian Murray 07967 103345 Jeremy Pagan 07977 931086

Duncan Milligan

Head of Communications and Research

Fire Brigades Union

FIRE BRIGADES UNION

IMMEDIATE RELEASE 25 January 2010

SOUTH YORKSHIRE FIRE DISPUTE –FIRE AUTHORITY BACKS UNION CALL TO HELP RESOLVE DISPUTE BY NATIONAL FIRE SERVICE ARBITRATION

South Yorkshire FBU has welcomed the fire authority’s decision to accept national arbitration to help resolve their dispute over shift changes. The issues have now been referred to fire service national union and employers representatives.

Ian Murray FBU regional secretary said: “We’re pleased the fire authority accepted our proposals to involve the national employers and union representatives. They have helped resolve numerous disputes in the last few years.

“All the union wants is for the agreement reached in November to be followed through. We could not agree the terms of reference at ACAS because the fire authority wanted to split the issues between ACAS and national fire service arbitration. 

“South Yorkshire fire crews want the issues sorted out as a whole so that the dispute does not drag on unnecessarily for months.

“It is important this agreement is followed with a commitment by both sides to seek resolution. South Yorkshire fire crews hope this is a major step forward in resolving all the issues which are in dispute.”

Regional and local media contacts: Ian Murray 07967 103345 Jeremy Pagan  07977 931086

From: Ian Murray
Sent: 22 January 2010 22:52
To: 20 All Officials
Subject: Cancellation - Lobby of South Yorkshire Fire Authority & Trade Dispute Update
 

Greetings All

Following a hectic week of political activity, meetings with various elected members and the FBU now putting forward a proposal to refer all matters regarding their dispute to the NJC and not ACAS, due to there being no agreement reached on the Terms of Reference, the FBU have today received correspondence from SYFR informing them that the Fire Authority are to consider the FBU’s proposal at their meeting on Monday 25 January 2010. Also, stated in this correspondence, is that SYFR have suspended their dismissal / re-engagement process until the FA make a decision on whether to agree to the FBU’s proposal.

Due to the developments of SYFR suspending their dismissal process and the additional political activity to support the FBU’s proposal to refer all matters to the NJC Joint Secretaries, South Yorkshire FBU campaign committee today decided to suspend the 48 hours strike due to start 09.00hrs Sunday, but resolved that should the FA meeting not support the FBU proposal at their meeting on Monday, then they will request the General Secretary immediately cancel that suspension and add the 48 hours strike back onto the end of the 8 day 9 hour strike that is still live and due to start at 09.00 27 January 2010.

Also due to these latest developments and the current delicate political situation, the lobby of the Fire Authority, planned for their meeting on Monday has now also been cancelled.

Once again many thanks for all the messages of support sent to branches, please keep them coming because as has happened many times in this dispute, there has been many false dawns.

YIU

Ian

From: Ian Murray
Sent: 21 January 2010 09:34
To: 20 All Officials
Subject: South Yorkshire Trade Dispute - Lobby of the Fire Authority
 

Greetings All

As you will no doubt be aware, the temporary suspension of industrial action in South Yorkshire has now been cancelled as a result of SYFRA once again progressing with their dismissal / re-engagement process. As a result a further set of strikes have been called on the following dates;

48 hrs strike - 09.00hrs 24^th January until 09.00 26^th January

8 days 9 hrs strike – 09.00 27^th January until 18.00 hrs 4^th January

Urgent Request For Assistance

On Monday 25^th January (2^nd Strike day) the Fire Authority are meeting to consider their options with regards the dispute and the FBU intend to lobby this meeting. We will be congregating outside of the Joint Secretariat Building, Regent Street, Barnsley at around 09.30 – 10.00 am and this is an open invite to anyone who wishes to attend to come along.

As with all previous action taken, you are all invited to come and join the SY FBU members on any of the picket lines, in doing so demonstrating the national support their fight has and is receiving. Messages of support are also a big boost to morale when received by branches so please encourage these to continue (although management are now removing these from notice boards) could you if possible send them electronically to       graham.wilkinson@fbu.org.uk so that we have a template so when they are removed two more get put up.

Finally, taking 10 days 9 hours of strike in a 12 day period will have a massive financial impact on firefighters, so could I ask once again for all branches, brigades and regions to dig deep and collect donations for the South Yorkshire FBU Hardship Fund, details below;

South Yorkshire FBU Hardship Fund

Nat West Bank

Account No. 33008515

Sort code 60 – 40 - 09

YIU

Ian

Ian Murray

Regional Secretary

SOUTH YORKSHIRE FIREFIGHTERS ISSUE NEW STRIKE CALL AFTER SYFR REJECT THEIR PROPOSALS TO SETTLE THE DISPUTE

Immediate release 15 January

The Fire Brigades Union has called new strike action in South Yorkshire following the failure of the employer to agree a mechanism to settle the long running dispute. The Chief Officer has refused to withdraw the threat to sack South Yorkshire firefighters or to end the procedures already underway to carry out the sackings.

The FBU have announced a 48 hour strike starting at 09.00hours 24 January 2010 until 09.00 hours 26 January 2010. It has given the Fire Authority until Monday to withdraw the threat to sack firefighters, otherwise they may face another 8 day strike.

SYFR have refused to agree to any ACAS terms of reference that would include the full range of issues under dispute. These include issues such as work routines, breaks and any compensation to be paid for the changes made. This is despite the employer already offering a compensation package.

Regional Secretary Ian Murray said: “It is outrageous that they have refused to stop the process of sacking our members. They have now withdrawn an offer of compensation that they have already made and they are attempting to set limits on what can be considered as binding by ACAS.

“We have written to them on several occasions seeking to resolve this matter and offering other alternative routes which are commonly used in the fire service. Most recently we wrote on 12 January requesting that they withdraw their intent to start the sacking process and the full range of issues we would like to be considered by ACAS but they have written back to us completely ignoring the contents of our letter.

“The FBU has also spoken to ACAS fully explaining its position and why it is necessary for them to give a decision on the whole thing and not just the parts that SYFR want to be considered. The FBU thought it had a breakthrough when we met with DCFO Steve Swarbrick on 17th December and he agreed to recommend to the Fire Authority on 21st December that the matter should be resolved through the Fire Service procedures (Joint Secretaries).

“Despite this assurance he never even reported back whether the Fire Authority had accepted this. Instead we were told that a process that could ultimately end up with the sacking of large numbers of firefighters would re-start on 4th January.

“The FBU has got political support for its request to get 3rd party assistance without any preconditions to end this dispute, but SYFR will only agree to 3rd Party assistance with their preconditions.”

South Yorkshire Hardship Fund

Nat West Bank

Account No. 33008515

Sort code 60 - 40 - 09

South Yorkshire Latest 03/11/09 - 04/11/09 - Click Here

1/11/09 South Yorkshire Set More Strike Dates - Click Here

30/10/09 - FBU offers to resolve dispute and avert strike action - Click Here

FIRE BRIGADES UNION

MEDIA RELEASE: 14 October 2009

South Yorkshire firefighters give a massive vote of no confidence in the Chief Fire Officer and his principal management team and feel that there is a bullying culture within SYFRS. The Fire Brigades Union responds by initiating a ‘United Against Bullying Campaign’.

In response to issues raised by its members South Yorkshire Fire Brigades Union carried out a confidential survey to highlight the attitude of the brigade leadership team towards FBU members working in SYFRA.This anonymous survey of all FBU members, encompassing all roles, was overseen by a well respected independent scrutineer and displayed some quite astonishing and distressing results. In the short time that the survey was run almost 2/3rds of FBU members felt strongly enough about the issue to respond.

The worrying aspect of the survey however is that;

• 97% of the responders felt that principal management display, or have displayed, behaviour that is confrontational, dismissive or disrespectful
• 97% of the responders felt that principal managers have created a workplace built on a culture of threats, intimidation and fear, where employees no longer feel able to express their true opinions without fear of retribution
• The survey also indicated that 96% of responders feel that managers are subject to stressful working environments including unreasonable workloads and deadlines
• To conclude 97% of responders supported a resolution declaring a vote of no confidence in SYFRA’s principal management team.

The FBU feel that the results of this independently administrated survey show an alarming perception of bullying and harassment within the FBU members working in SYFRA. It is extremely worrying that this perceived behaviour is being allowed to continue despite SYFRS having a code of conduct for all employees.

The SYFRS code of conduct for employees outlines the following;

• EMPLOYEE RIGHTS
•  All employees have the right to be treated with dignity, in a fair and transparent manner and with respect for their individual beliefs, culture, values, sexuality and ethnic origin.
•  All employees have the right to be protected from harassment, bullying and unwelcome conduct from others.
•  All employees have the right to challenge any perceived inappropriate conduct by other employees. Employee responsibilities
• To challenge inappropriate conduct or impropriety and to follow procedures for raising any concerns.

Large numbers of FBU members have highlighted, through this confidential survey that they feel they are working in a workplace that is built upon a culture of threats, intimidation and fear and that they are no longer able to express their true opinions without fear of retribution.

To assist members to comply with the code of practice the FBU has organised a United Against Bullying campaign where members will be asked to wear a badge highlighting that they support a workplace free of threats, intimidation and fear. These badges will be available to all FBU members in South Yorkshire and should be worn at work to mark a challenge to inappropriate conduct or impropriety. Unfortunately 97% of survey responders felt that they could not express their true feelings through the normal procedures for fear of retribution so this show of an FBU ‘United Against Bullying’ is necessary.

The FBU has written to the Chief Fire Officer Mark Smitherman, Fire Authority members and local MPs asking them to support this challenge and requesting urgent talks to address this situation

Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Secretary Ian Murray explained;

“The FBU accept that the issues raised are more complicated because many of the concerns may arise because of the very people we want to discuss this with, so we have had to also try and involve elected Fire Authority members in these talks. A vote of no confidence in the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s management team that was initiated on a fire station was supported by a massive 97% of FBU members who responded to this survey, which included firefighters and middle managers. This situation cannot be allowed to continue.  Wearing a badge is only the start, we have written to senior management and requested that they support this challenge and work with us on this issue.

“Not surprisingly SY management has responded by threatening to discipline any FBU member who dared to wear these badges at work. Without even meeting with the FBU a memorandum was sent to all staff informing members that they are contravening service policies by wearing a badge that does not relate to British Fire Service organisations. The badge simply says ‘South Yorkshire FBU – United Against Bullying’ and does not attempt to cause any situation except asking FBU members to use their ‘right to challenge any perceived inappropriate conduct by other employees’

“The FBU cannot stand by and ignore the fact that members have indicated that they are working in an environment where they feel principal managers have created a workplace built on a culture of threats, intimidation and fear, where employees no longer feel able to express their true opinions without fear of retribution

This immediate threat has shown how management reacts when someone tries to challenge unacceptable behaviour.

“Firefighters don’t have the confidence in the usual process for reporting bullying and extreme situations call for extreme measures”.

Ends

Media contacts

Ian Murray – Regional Secretary 07967 103345

Jeremy Pagan – EC Member

FIRE BRIGADES UNION

IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12 October 2009

SOUTH YORKSHIRE - FIRE CREWS SET TWO STRIKE DATES AFTER AUTHORITY REFUSES TO WITHDRAW DISMISSAL NOTICES AND REJECTS NATIONAL TALKS

South Yorkshire fire crews have set two days of strike action in response to the fire authority’s refusal to withdraw dismissal notices served on 744 firefighters. The authority has also turned down a union request to seek the assistance of national employers and union to help broker an agreement.

Strike dates set: 19th Oct 6pm to 20th Oct 6pm and 23rd Oct 6pm to 24th 6pm.

Ian Murray, FBU regional secretary said: “The fire authority is hellbent on a strategy of confrontation. They have refused to withdraw the redundancy notice involving 744 firefighters and have turned down our request of national mediation.

“We asked them to seek the assistance of national employers and union to try and broker an agreement. This is the usual avenue of mediation when agreement is not reached at local level, but they have turned this down as well.

“South Yorkshire fire crews are very disappointed. We have been very reluctant to set strike dates in the hope the fire authority will see some sense.

“We’ve put forward alternatives which save even more money and free up more time for training and community fire safety. These have also been rejected.

“Having turned down every alternative and rejected national mediation they have left us with no choice. You don’t threaten to dismiss 744 firefighters and not expect a strong response including strike action.

“Changing the shifts is the key to them cutting firefighters and fire appliances at night time when the most dangerous fires occur. They have already approved these plans, but remain in a state of denial which flies in the face of the truth.”

The South Yorkshire Corporate Plan 2007-2011 Integrated Risk Management Plan (at page 28) states:

“We will vary the level of service provision in accordance with the level of risk

We propose to match the daily availability of rescue pumps to the daily variation in fire risk levels. Most emergencies happen during the day time and as such this is when we are busiest; we therefore plan to ensure more pumps are available during the busier times. Correspondingly we will reduce the numbers of pumps available during the less busy periods.”