Archive for This forum is for serving or retired firefighters from the LFB. This is the place to have a moan, have a laugh and maybe even get some proper answers to some time honoured and new questions
BEWARE OF SCAMMERS ASKING FOR ADMIN ACCESS. WE NEVER ASK FOR ACCESS.
The FBU has, in recent days, received a number of reports from members that senior managers are going around workplaces claiming that 12-hour shifts are “inevitable” and will be “in by the end of the year”. Such talk is complete and utter claptrap. Those making such claims are either being disingenuous or have themselves been misled.
There is nothing “inevitable” about new shifts at all. Existing firefighter contracts clearly state what start and finish times will be. Like any kind of contract, if one party desires a change in the terms, it takes the other party to agree. Only in very exceptional circumstances can an employer get away with varying an employee’s contract without agreement.
The FBU has made it abundantly clear that it will never agree to 12-hour shifts, and there would be very serious implications were LFEPA to impose change unilaterally, including a ballot for industrial action and the instigation of legal proceedings.
We would urge members to treat with a hefty pinch of salt all suggestions that shift changes are “inevitable”. Should members hear such claims spoken by a senior manager, they might like to enquire, in light of the FBU’s opposition, whether that manager believes it would be appropriate for LFEPA to breach firefighters’ contracts – and, by extension, the law – by forcing through change without agreement. This usually puts them on the back foot.
We are also re-issuing the attached News Report and would request that it is widely circulated at your branch.
Yours in unity
Paul Embery
Blaze Bear
LONDON REGION FBU 13 JANUARY 2009
London Region FBU, John Horner Mews, Frome Street, LONDON N1 8PB. Tel: 020-7359-3638
WHY DOES THE LONDON FIRE BRIGADE WISH TO
INTRODUCE 12-HOUR SHIFTS?
In short, to increase productivity and save money. But the
FBU believes that the proposed change would have a
massively detrimental impact of the personal lives of
many members—especially those with childcare needs—
as well as pave the way for cuts in fire cover. That is why
we stand in opposition to the proposals. Further, a basic
rule of industrial relations is that when an employer demands
increased productivity from the workforce, it usually
offers something in return. The London Fire Brigade
has not done so. As usual, the brigade wants something
for nothing.
DIDN’T THE BRIGADE CARRY OUT A CONSULTATION
EXERCISE WHERE IT ASKED FIREFIGHTERS
WHAT THEY THOUGHT ABOUT NEW SHIFTS?
Yes, this happened shortly after the brigade first announced
the proposals back in 2005. However, the exercise
was fundamentally flawed. As well as there being
failings with the mailing process, the consultation document
did not allow firefighters to state that they favoured
the current shift system; it was totally loaded in favour of
change. Also, the consultation was extended to nonuniformed
employees of LFEPA, none of whom would be
affected by changes to shift timings. There were further
concerns about the impartiality of the consultation, as it
was not overseen by an independent scrutineer. Consequently,
the FBU called on its members to boycott the
consultation, a move that was clearly successful, as, in
the end, only a handful of firefighters participated. This
was in stark contrast to the FBU’s own consultative ballot,
which was conducted by an independent scrutineer and
attracted a return from well over 3,000 members, a staggering
98% of whom voted against the proposed
changes.
IS IT CORRECT THAT THE BRIGADE’S REAL
REASON FOR PROPOSING 12-HOUR SHIFTS IS TO
ALLOW IT TO REDUCE FIRE COVER AT NIGHT?
Almost certainly. For years, London Fire Brigade bosses
have wanted to save money by reducing fire cover at
night in certain parts of London. This means stations being
closed and appliances coming off-the-run for the night
shift. It also means most firefighters working more day
shifts and fewer night shifts. The current shift system is
an obstacle to this, as the day shift is much shorter than
the night shift. This means that, under the current arrangement,
it would not be practical for the brigade to
increase the proportion of day shifts worked by each firefighter,
as the total number of hours worked in such circumstances
would not reach the required 42 hours a
week. However, by equalising the shift system to 12
hours for days and nights, the brigade would be able to
assign extra firefighters to day shifts and reduce the number
of firefighters on night shift, while still ensuring that
every firefighter is working 42 hours a week. The brigade’s
justification for cutting fire cover at night is that
there are fewer fire calls at night. Whilst this is true, what
the brigade regularly fails to mention is that more fire
deaths occur during the night shift. For this reason alone,
the union believes it would be utterly reckless to cut fire
cover at night in London.
WOULD REDUCED NIGHT-TIME COVER PLACE THE
2-2-4 SHIFT PATTERN UNDER THREAT?
In a word, yes. The brigade has, of course, denied that
there is any intention to scrap the 2-2-4 shift pattern, but it
doesn’t take a genius to work out that requiring firefighters
to work more days and fewer nights means that the
current pattern will eventually have to go. The brigade
SHIFT CHANGE PROPOSALS:
YOUR questions answered
Not for the first time, the London Fire
Brigade is abuzz with rumours of
proposed shift changes. This had led to
lively and intense discussions at
workplace branches, with demands that
the FBU step up the campaign to defend
the current shift system.
Here, we explain where the union stands
on the issue, and answer some of your
most frequently-asked questions.
has already publicly admitted that it wishes to reduce
night-time cover in certain parts of London. LFEPA’s director
of resources, Rita Dexter, is on record as saying, “We
will have to address these issues; it wouldn’t be reasonable
to not ask ourselves whether we need 24-hour cover
everywhere, all the time. We think that 2x12 shifts are future-
proofed if we wanted to do that.”
WHAT OF THE BRIGADE’S ARGUMENT THAT THE
CURRENT SHIFT START AND FINISH TIMES MUST BE
ALTERED, AS CHANGE OF SHIFTS OCCUR DURING
THE RUSH HOUR WHEN TERRORISTS ARE MOST
LIKELY TO STRIKE AND WHEN APPLIANCES ARE
COMING OFF-THE-RUN?
First, the FBU has long argued that the solution to the
problem of appliances coming off-the-run at change of
shift is to increase establishment numbers. However, this
is something that the brigade refuses to do due to cost.
Second, the terrorist argument is a red herring. There is no
such thing as a rush hour in London anymore. It is more
like a rush three-hours, stretching from around 6.30 to
9.30 in the morning and 4.30 to 7.30 in the evening. The
impact of any terrorist strike is likely to be the same at any
time during these hours. Third, the question needs to be
asked: if the brigade is genuinely worried about the terrorist
threat in London, why did it close a station in the heart
of the West End in 2005, as well as reduce crewing levels
at all two-appliances stations from 13 to 12?
THE BRIGADE ARGUES THAT BY EXTENDING THE
WORKING DAY, FIREFIGHTERS WILL BE ABLE TO
CARRY OUT INCREASED COMMUNITY FIRE SAFETY
WORK, SUCH AS FITTING SMOKE ALARMS, WHEN
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ARRIVING HOME
FROM WORK. IS THIS FAIR?
No, this is another smokescreen. Other than at recognised
stand-down times, there is no period of the day during
which firefighters are unable to carry out their normal duties.
Smoke alarms can just as easily be fitted by those
commencing a night shift as those coming to the end of a
day shift.
IS IT TRUE THAT 12-HOUR SHIFTS WOULD MEAN
THE END OF NIGHT-TIME STAND-DOWN AS WE
KNOW IT?
Yes. The brigade’s proposals include slashing night-time
stand down from the current seven hours to four.
WHY DOES THE FBU CLAIM THAT 12-HOUR SHIFTS
WOULD LEAD TO A CUT IN ESTABLISHMENT
LEVELS?
Fewer firefighters on duty at night would allow the brigade
to reduce establishment levels across London. This means
job losses. In the last twenty years or so, around 1,500
frontline firefighting posts have been lost in London. Under-
crewing compromises the safety of firefighters and the
public. It also results in excessive outduties and problems
when booking leave. The FBU opposes all attempts to cut
jobs and reduce establishment levels.
THE FBU SAYS THAT 12-HOUR SHIFTS WOULD SIGNAL
THE END OF THE TRADITIONAL WATCH STRUCTURE.
WHY SO?
The present watch structure is based on the need for constant
crewing, i.e. similar numbers of firefighters on duty
around-the-clock. The current shift system allows for constant
crewing. But if constant crewing as provided by the
current shift system is abolished, we will, in time, see a
new shift pattern emerge, with firefighters working more
irregular shifts. This will inevitably mean the end of the
current watch structure—something, incidentally, that has
also long been part of the agenda of senior LFEPA figures,
who regard the watch structure as “outdated and unwelcoming”.
CAN THE BRIGADE SIMPLY FORCE THROUGH
THESE CHANGES?
Not without serious repercussions. In the event that the
brigade notifies the union of its intent to initiate formal talks
over shift changes, there must, in the first instance, be a
period of 90 days’ negotiation. In the absence of a negotiated
agreement, the brigade must then decide whether to
ditch the proposals or impose change without agreement.
If the brigade chooses the latter, its actions might be regarded
by a court of law as a fundamental breach of contract.
Alternatively, the brigade might simply scrap existing
contracts and introduce brand new ones, with the new shift
arrangements factored-in. This would mean giving a further
90 days’ notice of termination of existing contracts
(effectively sacking 6,000 London firefighters) and inviting
them to rejoin under new terms. However, if it were to do
this, the brigade could be sued for unfair dismissal by
every sacked firefighter and find itself facing a hefty compensation
bill. In a recent notable case, Leicestershire
county council was forced to pay compensation to the tune
of around £8million to its workers, after attempting to force
through new contracts without agreement. The FBU
would, of course, explore all legal avenues to seek redress,
though this can often be a lengthy and convoluted
process. In the meantime, the union would have no choice
but to call on its members to take industrial action—up to
and including strike action—in response to the changes.
ISN’T THE FBU BEING UNREASONABLE? WHY DOES
THE UNION ALWAYS OPPOSE CHANGE?
The FBU doesn’t oppose change for the sake of it; it only
opposes change that it thinks will be detrimental to its
members and to the fire service. The FBU has actually
been at the forefront of real modernisation in the UK fire
service, including fighting to bring about decent conditions
of service, improved health and safety protection, enhanced
fire safety legislation, more focus on equalities,
better equipment and training, and so on. Any democratic
union must be guided by its members’ wishes. Wherever
FBU officials go in London, members tell them the same
thing: “Our shifts are not up for sale!” Twelve-hour shifts
would have a devastating impact on the family lives of
thousands of firefighters. The FBU is simply reflecting the
view of the overwhelming majority of its members.
AREN’T SHIFT CHANGES INEVITABLE?
No. The FBU is often made aware of instances where senior
managers have turned up at fire stations and tried to
persuade our members that change is “inevitable”, but,
frankly, these managers don’t know what they are talking
about and evidently have no understanding of the legal
and industrial implications of their comments. Remember,
certain managers were saying precisely the same thing
when the proposals were first announced. Three years on,
and they are no further forward. The FBU will never agree
to 12-hour shifts. Legally and industrially, the FBU remains
very well-placed to fight unwelcome changes, and we believe
that, if members continue with the same strength and
resolve, we will be successful in our campaign.
BlazingPalace
Still as we have just been announced as excellent by the audit commission, the highest standard that can be achieved, surely there is no need to change anything like shifts !
