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
The London region of the FBU has recently had to deal with numerous calls
from members in relation to community fire safety initiatives that are now
being routinely dreamed up by senior managers.
Some of these initiatives have good merit; others leave much to be desired
and, it would appear in some cases, are only created to support promotional prospects of those managers. The fact that these initiatives are being created is not, in itself, a problem, as most are brought to our attention in the correct way, permitting us to negotiate decent conditions and, where required, any allowances.
However, it is becoming increasingly common practice for managers to seek volunteers and, in some cases, inform members that the proposed new initiative has already been consulted with the FBU when in fact it hasn’t. On many occasions the only consultation that has taken place has been either at management meetings or with branch secretaries of the FBU, without giving due regard to the impact on the brigade as a whole.
Further, for some members to have taken part in certain recently-proposed
initiatives would have been to have contravened union policy, such as
initiatives that attempt to have firefighters working alongside the police when they are carrying out law enforcement.
Inappropriate and inadequate consultation seriously undermines the ability of the local and national FBU to ensure that our members get the best conditions and allowances possible. Examples of where premature volunteering has had a negative impact on the ability of the union to negotiate reasonable conditions include the USAR and cycle projects. In such cases, it was virtually impossible for the union to secure 2 a decent deal because the brigade already had a ready supply of volunteers and was, therefore, under no pressure to offer concessions.
If members continue to volunteer when the FBU has not been properly
consulted, then it is hardly surprising that members will be carrying out these initiatives on far inferior conditions than can be negotiated.
Our employers would have no desire to negotiate with us when 50 or so
volunteers have already expressed an interest in an initiative, with little or no benefits being offered in the first instance. In short, premature volunteering removes any leverage that the FBU might have in negotiations. Although the FBU accepts that industrial relations within the LFB have improved in recent months, we still expect managers to abide by the agreed protocols.
However, harmonious industrial relations could be seriously undermined by a combination of the brigade not consulting properly on new initiatives and over enthusiasm on the part of members rushing to volunteer for new projects before the FBU has had the chance to secure decent conditions.
I urge all members to ensure that consultation or negotiation has indeed taken place with the FBU before expressing an interest in such initiatives. This can be done very simply by speaking to your local FBU official or calling the regional office on 020-7359 3638.
