All Station/Brigade Reps - Briefing Note 01/10

You will be aware from previous communications that the RFU has been pursuing settlement of our cases that were issued in 2001, and which form part of the group of claims known collectively as the ‘Mathews Part-Time Workers Claims’. As you know, all of these claims have been 'stayed' on the direction of the Judge pending the outcome of the the Matthews test cases. The national employers have now released a circular (EMP/01/10) which provides an update on this and it is attached for your information.

It is possible that you may have also seen or heard about an FBU circular addressing the settlement offer that has been made. Although there are some inaccuracies within the FBU publication, we do not intend to address them within this circular.

Instead we would refer you to a separate circular that has been issued by the National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services (NJC/02/10), a copy of which is also attached. The NJC circular contains details of the settlement offer that has been put forward and you will see that the offer covers all of the RFU issues not just the limited issues raised by the FBU.

The current position is that we are considering the settlement offer that has been put forward by the Fire and Rescue Services' legal team following a number of meetings with them and this matter will be the subject of discussion with our own barrister, Jane McNeil QC on the 19th April. Subject to advice following that meeting we shall be in a position to make recommendations regarding the next steps.

Until such time as this advice to members is finalised we ask for your continued patience and understanding on such a long-drawn-out issue beyond our control.

John Barton
General Secretary