RDS Watch manager wins the right to apply for a wholetime post

The recent issue of Tip Sheet contained information on tribunal applications we have submitted on behalf of members who sought to apply for transfer to wholetime and were refused, mainly because ‘the service does not have a policy’ to allow for such a transfer. The claims were brought on the basis that such refusals constituted “less favourable treatment” for the purposes of the Part Time Workers Regulations 2000. Our action on a member’s behalf has had its first success.

Our member, an experienced watch manager has now been advised (through our legal team) that yes he was treated less favourably, the service has failed to fulfil its obligations to him and importantly the current selection process has been postponed to allow him to apply. We say what a just result!

We have never argued that anyone serving in the RDS should be guaranteed a wholetime post; merely that he/she should not have obstructions put in their way to prevent them from applying and submitting themselves to a competitive process. A number of fire services for their own reasons have chosen to heap trouble on themselves by discriminating against employees purely on the basis of their contract. We are very pleased as is the member concerned and our thanks go to Harriet McInnes at Howes Percival LLP for her efforts on our member’s behalf.

Westminster Hall Debate 11th February

Scottish MP for Orkney and Shetland, Alastair Carmichael, secured a debate in Westminster Hall on the implications of removal of the Opt-Out.

General Secretary, John Barton and President, Adrian Hughes were invited to the debate and met with Alastair Carmichael and colleagues prior to it taking place. We had taken the opportunity of providing a brief to Mr Carmichael in advance but it became very clear that both he and his party colleagues already have a well developed knowledge of the fire service in their constituencies in Scotland, our briefing paper supplemented this to good effect in the debate.

We would encourage you to view the video and the Hansard transcript on our website www.rfuonline.co.uk and draw your own conclusions, taking particular account of the exchanges between Mike Penning (Conservative) MP for Hemel Hempstead and himself a former firefighter and Andrew Dismore (Labour) MP for Hendon and himself a former solicitor for the FBU; it makes very interesting listening and reading.

John and Adrian attended a press briefing after the debate and a TV interview on College green which was to be screened in Scotland that evening. They then attended another meeting at the department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR).

Further information will be provided in the next circulation but if you support our actions regarding retention of the Opt-Out and are not yet an RFU member, give some thought to who is looking after your interests on this important issue and join online.

John Barton
National General Secretary