COMPULSORY OVERTIME AND SPECIAL APPLIANCES

Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 11:07 pm

The FBU’s regional office has over the last few days received many calls from members questioning the validity of brigade policy 251 in relation to being ordered to hang-on for an hour at the end of shift to keep special appliances on-the-run.

The union has taken legal advice on the matter, and it is clear that the brigade has been interpreting the policy in such a way as to deliberately undermine the current industrial action.

It is clear within the policy, and through the longstanding local collective agreement which has been in place for many years, that members can only be ordered to hang-on for an hour at the end of shift to keep pump ladders on the run. There is no local agreement in place to force members to do compulsory overtime on any other appliances.

Policy 251 is a rewrite of the previous brigade order 91, and managers are fully aware that no collective agreement has been reached with the FBU which allows them to order members to carry out any compulsory hanging-on beyond crewing pump ladders.

The oncoming watch should first crew all pump ladders. Where this is not possible, pumps and specials should be taken off-the-run to accommodate the crewing of pump ladders with the on-duty personnel. If it is still not possible to crew all pump ladders after such pumps and specials have been taken off-the-run, then members from the off going watch can be ordered to remain on-duty for a period not exceeding one hour to crew those pump ladders, as per the collective local agreement.

The only hanging-on which is sanctioned by the FBU is that which has been agreed collectively between the union and brigade, in this case an agreement to keep pump ladders on-the-run.

Therefore, in accordance with both our legal advice and the collective local agreement, members are advised that there is no obligation for them to remain on-duty beyond the change of watch unless it to keep pump ladders on-the-run once pumps and specials have been taken off-the-run.

Further, we are also aware that many members have been ordered to remain on-duty at the change of watch having received as little as 10 minutes notification to do so. Again this is not acceptable. Members should be given notification at the earliest opportunity.

Members are reminded that, should the brigade attempt to keep specials on-the-run by means of ordering individuals to remain on-duty at the end of shift, such an order is not supported by any collective local agreement and is therefore an abuse of authority by those giving the instructions.

Learner User Online: Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 96

That's handy to know.

Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 12:34 pm

Our first day duty about half past three I had some GM on the phone telling me I had to order a CM to hang on to keep the FRU on the run after 6 as there was no one on the green watch to ride in charge of it. Needless to say I refused to ask / order / instruct someone to hang on. Following day the same GM is on the phone telling me I am going to be the subject of a report because I failed to order someone to hang on to keep a special on the run.
Am I bothered No, I think its funny that they have to resort to bully boy tactics to try and get there way.

I think he's a wanker but thats just my view, oh yea his name is O'Connor

Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 2:40 pm

Well done squire, we've had a similar incident with our two specials, and they got the same response from our man at the helm.

I don't always agree 100% with some of the Union 'issues', but I'm right behind this current campaign, I've never seen such blatant 'fook you' behaviour from those who purport to be our senior leaders / managers / role models.

United we stand . . etc, has never been more apt than at the present time.