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FOLLOWING LENGTHY negotiations, a draft agreement has been reached between LFEPA and the FBU over the implementation of Continual Professional Development (CPD). It is proposed that, for the current year, most firefighters will receive the £833 payment automatically—i.e. they will not be required to go through the application process. This is a superior arrangement to those in other brigades, where all firefighters are expected to apply for the payment. In London, only firefighters who fall into one or more of the following categories will be required to apply:
• employees with nine days or more non-due-to-service sickness in the 12 months preceding 1 July 2007.
• employees who have been on light duties for six months or more in the 12 months preceding 1 July 2007.
• employees who have been absent from work on unpaid leave (e.g. career break, special leave) for six months or more in the 12 months preceding 1 July 2007.
These local arrangements supplement the national agreement on CPD, which was finally signed by the employers and union last week.
The FBU’s acting executive council member for London, Ian Leahair, said, “I believe the draft agreement represents a reasonable deal for our members, not least because most will not even have to apply for the payment; they will receive it automatically. This is markedly better to the arrangement in most other brigades, where firefighters are forced to go through the convoluted application process. Those that fall into one of the three categories are not automatically debarred; they simply have to apply, and we will monitor the situation to ensure their applications are considered fairly. “We are in a much better position now compared to when we began negotiations many weeks ago. That’s why the London regional committee is strongly recommending the deal.” The draft agreement will be circulated to branches. Branches must vote on the document by 8 October.
