| Meeting
with the Minister
The RFU met with Fire Service Minister Parmjit Dhanda on the 9th
July, as part of our regular meetings and we discussed the following
topics contained in this issue of Tip Sheet.
Equality
and Diversity
A National strategy for Equality and Diversity in the FRS was launched
recently and our meeting was an opportunity for the RFU to register
our support at a face to face meeting with the Minister. We believe
the challenge is to now raise awareness within the service in order
to make it work. However a recent survey of current and ex-firefighters
reveals a worrying aspect in terms of behaviour, specifically bullying
and the lack of confidence to report it or of it being dealt with.
Bullying has resulted in huge distress for those on the receiving
end which all too often results in resignation. We have a collective
responsibility to work towards a culture which matches public perception
of the fire service. There is much work to be done.
In
Scope
With the final implementation of EC Regulation 561/2006 in April
2007, drivers of LGV’s and PCV’s who are also RDS face
uncertainty over their continued employment in the service and there
is no derogation or exemption from these rules. The RFU has been
in discussion with CLG for some time as to how we might be able
to achieve a relaxation for RDS, but also aware that this regulation
also impacts on other groups such as voluntary coastguards, RNLI,
Territorial army and Special constables included. We are also in
contact with other parties including other fire services in Europe.
What now? We are now
seeking your help! To find out the potential impact this could have
on RDS personnel we need those effected to complete our survey,
either online or via post by contacting RFU HQ. If we do nothing,
it could mean either dismissal or have on-call time dramatically
reduced to comply with the law. If we can demonstrate that this
change will have a negative affect on a significant number of RDS
personnel we hope to be able persuade the Government to find a workable
solution.
Fire Service Minister, Parmjit Dhanda
said;
“I was very grateful to you for bringing to my attention
the issue of in-scope driving. This clearly effects many emergency
services, not only the fire and rescue service. You are undertaking
your own survey of this issue, and will share your feedback with
us, as we will from our own assessment. Once we have a better understanding
of the scale of the issue, I intend to raise it at Ministerial level
at the Department for Transport.”
Irrespective of RFU membership, please
fill in the form and return it to our Head Office or go online and
complete the survey on our website http://www.rfuonline.co.uk/main/inscope_drivers_survey.htm.
We will not release names, we’re only interested in numbers,
we shall then use this information to lobby for a relaxation of
the rules.
Please fill it in!
Co responder
In early June we became aware of a problem regarding Co-Responder
Schemes which arose out of uncertainty, misinformation (call it
what you will) over ‘clinical negligence indemnity insurance’.
NHS Litigation Authority advised all Ambulance Trusts, certain NHS
bodies, Trusts, Foundation Trusts and Primary Care Trusts, that
they are unable to provide NHS indemnity insurance cover for non
NHS bodies which included Fire and Rescue Services.
This resulted in a number of FRS suspending
the use of Fire Co responders throughout the UK. We are well known
for our longstanding support for those who co-respond and we put
in a great deal of effort to lobby for these schemes to be reinstated.
Eventually after having raised this with CLG a solution was found
and we’re pleased to say that the suspension was lifted. What
is clear however, is that CLG and the NHS have to work together
to iron out these difficulties in the future. Lives are being saved
every day thanks to Co responders.
Ill-Health
review
Members will be aware from previous Circulars that there have been
problems with regard to pension provision for those who sustain
an injury on duty. The RFU is fully engaged in working with CLG
to reach a solution and this has culminated in a draft Circular
being produced which satisfies most of our concerns. In addition
we have contributed to an LGA best practice document covering redeployment
and other issues. We await the release of both the Circular and
the guidance but due to an ongoing legal case this is unlikely to
be until January of next year.
Whilst progress has been made we continue to
have concerns on the arrangements for those RDS who have joined
the service post April 2006. These concerns centre around the provision
for RDS who are permanently injured on duty and lose their primary
employment because of it. Members need to be aware that whereas
the FPS provided an injury pension based upon equivalent Wholetime
earnings, rank, age and length of service, the NFPS provides for
a pro-rata award based upon RDS earnings. This could have a huge
impact upon financial security for those who suffer permanent injuries.
We are currently doing some work on two fronts to be able to mitigate
the effects and will provide more details as and when this has been
completed.
Ill-Health
retirements
For those members who have joined the NFPS there is a consolation
in that should a member suffer from a health issue rather than an
on-duty injury, which causes them to have to leave the service,
they will at least be entitled to an ill-heath pension, which wasn’t
the case with the FPS, we understand that take up of the new scheme
is low, around 30%, perhaps now is the time to consider joining
the scheme at least for this benefit.
|
In
July we announced the launch of RFU Plus our own benefits website,
