News from the top – New team in post

Derek Chadbon retired as National General Secretary on the 30 June and has been succeeded by John Barton, previously his assistant. National Officer Tristan Ashby succeeds John as Assistant National General Secretary. We are sure that you would all join us in wishing Derek a long and fulfilling retirement and all the best to his successors for the future. John and Tristan are keen to build on what has already been achieved during Derek’s time in post and although the personalities may change the emphasis on pushing RDS issues forward remains the same.

We will move away from the previous newsletter format preferring to focus more on local as well as national issues that are informative and user friendly. We will therefore be looking towards our membership to provide any information that is newsworthy which can be shared across the country.

It is a fact of life that the FRS UK is under the hammer as well as the spotlight; progress is sporadic in some areas and there is an ever-increasing expectation from the centre to improve. As a prominent UK FRS commentator said recently to some amusement ……“Stroke of luck we haven’t got much on at the moment”… An understatement if ever there was one!

To our members we say this; the RFU of the future will continue to focus its efforts on your behalf in working for you at national level and report on its efforts on our website, the work we do on your behalf isn’t a state secret!

With the above in mind, if you don’t want to miss out on what we have to say then visit the RFU website or even better register online and you will receive the latest news direct to your inbox via your home PC or where applicable your fire station PC. So get those email addresses to us at office@rfuonline.co.uk

Work is ongoing to rebrand the website and it’s on the site where you can access more up-to-date news than you can read in any newsletter. Climate change and diminishing natural resources are very much a hot topic and will get ever more so, therefore the RFU is reviewing its paper usage and associated costs and one outcome could well be a reduction in hard copy distribution being replaced by electronic versions.

Buncefield Report

The Fire Brigades Union has put together a report on the Buncefield Fire. We can’t comment on the report as we’ve yet to track down a copy, but we’re sure that lessons will be learned or have already done so from the biggest peacetime fire in UK history. Any recommendations will undoubtedly reflect future IRMP’s not only in Hertfordshire but throughout the UK.

However, in view of the recent widespread flooding we feel that IRMPs will have to focus on the challenges brought about by the increasing likelihood of devastation brought about by severe weather. Just a thought, but consider the way in which High Volume Pumps (HVP’s) were stretched to the limit during the recent flooding. We might never have another Buncefield but it is quite possible that before the end of this year we could have a number of Sheffield’s, Worcester’s, Doncaster’s or Tewkesbury’s. A sobering thought indeed!

Does this not make the case for future IRMP’s to identify the areas which are the most susceptible to flooding and instead of resources being drawn from far and wide, HVP’s and other associated rescue equipment will need to be permanently situated in these areas of risk. The most efficient and cost-effective method of crewing them has to be by using RDS personnel.

The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown has promised to provide financial assistance to those authorities whose budgets have all but been destroyed by the cost of providing assistance to those unfortunate enough to be affected by the floods. We hope that this assistance also reflects the need for more support in the provision of additional appliances and equipment; this is after all a new burden on local authorities.

Natural Disaster, the ever increasing threat

Focusing on climate change, who cannot fail to feel for those people affected maybe for the second or third time by the torrential weather we’ve had over recent weeks. Is it climate change or just a freak of nature? Irrespective of what category it falls into, it has to be said that the UK FRS has been to the forefront of the response and all personnel irrespective of duty system, and trades union affiliation deserve our praise for their selfless devotion to duty. Not forgetting that some of those badly affected by the floods were also FRS personnel themselves.

Success in Devon & Somerset

Devon and Somerset Member Paul Buller became the first Firefighter (working the RDS) to go back on the run following successful action on his behalf by Tristan Ashby; Paul is now on life long medication that prevents the clotting of blood but Paul was determined to return to operational duties. Special thanks go out to Paul’s wife, Tracey and Barbara North (Equality & Diversity Coordinator) of Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, it took longer than expected but we got there – welcome back!!

This follows on from another success last year when Shaun Parker (Devon) became the first RDS amputee firefighter to return to full operational duty, again with the full support and assistance of the RFU.

These are but two examples of the support which is part of RFU membership, every year we, together with our legal team at Howes Percival deliver the goods to those members in trouble. We know that a large number of RDS personnel who are not in any union read our newsletters, some even ring when they’re already in trouble and offer to backdate membership! This is a timely reminder that things do go wrong and how would you fare if you tried to get through the legal minefield on your own. To join, contact your local rep, ring our office (01953 45505) or join online www.rfuonline.co.uk

Shropshire Seminar

Readers may be aware of the successful positive action taken by Shropshire FRS in making massive strides forward in the way in which their RDS staff are supported. Eight RSO’s (Retained Support Officers) have been recruited to assist stations who were having difficulty with a number of duty related issues. This initiative has been so successful that recruitment issues, appliances off the run, day to day support for RDS stations has taken a huge leap forward. which reinforces what we’ve said all along, RDS have the qualities and knowledge to understand the needs of their peers.
Such was the success that Shropshire FRS held a seminar at RAF Cosford on the 12 July (the venue is awesome) which focused totally on RDS issues and featured a number of key national players as guest speakers. We congratulate the service for taking this issue by the scruff of the neck and solving the problems. If you’d like to find out more, visit their website: www.shropshirefire.gov.uk

New Minister

Following Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s reshuffle we have a new Fire Minister, Mr Parmjit Dhanda MP. We welcome his appointment and look to continue our support for the Dept. As part of the new appointments CLG is now headed up by the Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP. New ANGS Tristan Ashby represented the RFU when he attended a reception at Eland House at her invitation on the 10 July.

Learning Zone

Having been successful in an application for funding last year in connection with the Union Modernisation Fund (UMF) we have been very busy working with our Academic partners Anglia Ruskin University in putting together a project entitled “Local representatives empowerment strategy”. This has resulted in a specifically designed training and support package being developed, put together on laptops which have been issued to attendees to assist them in their duties. A number of workshops have been held since the beginning of the year, this initiative is ongoing.

A spin off from this is the “Learning Zone” on our website. This is accessible by RFU members who are granted access on request. The “Zone” will be developed over the next few months and already has course content on it specifically designed for those who wish to develop their IT skills and who wish to access topics that will assist with promotion or transfer to WDS. IT literacy is a necessary component of a modernised FRS but regrettably the training is not generally available across the board. Therefore if you wish to develop these skills in your own time at your own speed, without peer pressure then sign in, register and get going, it’s FREE with your membership.

New Dimensions

The RFU sits on a number of national committees and in the case of New Dimension; Wayne Porter is the RFU’s representative. Wayne works full-time in the training Dept in Lincolnshire FRS, specialising in basic recruits courses for the RDS. There is an emerging concern regarding ongoing refresher training for ND and Wayne would be pleased to receive information on your concerns, he can then take these forward at national level.

To contact Wayne please forward your news or concerns to office@rfuonline.co.uk and we shall pass these on. We shall shortly be placing minutes and agenda from these meetings on our website accessible by everyone, so please feel free to log on and see what is going on.

Diabetes Report

Earlier this year a major report was published on Diabetes and National Officer, Phil Grimes (Lincs FRS) attended the release of the report in London; Phil also sits on the National Health and Safety Committee.

As previously stated, if you have concerns or news on H&S issues which you need advice on, please contact the office via email and we shall assist you. It’s worth noting that the RFU has a number of members with primary employment Health and Safety qualifications. This says much about the “Day Job” transferable skills that are so much a part of the qualities which RDS bring with them when they join the service. Members don’t always advise us of these transferable skills when they become members, so this again is a reminder. If you’ve got a skill which will help our members don’t be shy please let us know.

NFS Forum

A committee was recently set up at the College to deal with the thorny issue of selection tests and National Officer Adam Moore (Notts FRS) attends for the RFU. Amongst the discussions at the recent meeting centred on the appropriate use of the NFS test for transferring from RDS to WDS.

We are well aware that some FRS are using the NFS for this purpose, well this isn’t what it was designed for! Sue Evans from the National Assessment Unit at the College raised this point when she spoke at the Shropshire RDS Seminar and I quote, “The NFS Test is NOT a transfer tool”. Adam reports from the meeting he attended that this message will soon be spelled out providing the clarification it surely needs.

Co-Responder Schemes

Notwithstanding the outcome of the recent court case, the RFU is totally committed to its support for the expansion of such schemes within the FRS, so much so that we have jointly developed a Memorandum of Understanding on Co-Responding with CFOA. One of John Barton’s first duties on taking up his role as General Secretary was to sign the document and forward it to Ian Hayton (CFOA national lead on Co-Response).

We respect the right of the Fire Brigades Union to adopt the position it has on Co-Responding but, we regard this as an additional and voluntary duty and the right to undertake such a duty remains with the individual. ALL RFU members can expect our full backing including legal support whilst undertaking this valuable work and remember, lives are being saved every day by those members who carry it out. Another reminder (one of many in this issue) if you’re not an RFU member and you are co-responding, join us now and get yourself protected!

Equality and Diversity Stakeholder Group

The role of Equality and Diversity Stakeholder Group is to provide a forum for a wide range of internal and external fire and rescue service stakeholders to consider and advise on issues affecting equality and organisational diversity in the service.

The membership of the EDSG consists of representatives bodies, organisations representing minority and under representative groups within the service and external and professional association stakeholders.

The RFU is represented on this group by the RFU Vice President Anthony JJ Morgan who is also a Crew Manager within Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Tony’s aim is to enforce the RFU’s commitment to equality and diversity and be an advocate to promoting equality of opportunity to RFU members throughout the Fire and Rescue Service.

Recognition

The NJC outcome is having an effect and we are pleased to advise members in South Wales, Cornwall and Northants FRS that in the space of one week FULL recognition was approved in these services. A formalised relationship will allow local officials to fully engage with the service in the future. There are a few FRS out there who have yet to recognise the RFU and however tempting we won’t get in to “Naming and Shaming” because they know who they are.

The National Employers have recognised the RFU; we’re well past the “Critical Mass” stage now so why delay the inevitable! The RFU has no reservations or policies which prevent it sitting down with other stakeholders and we’d like to make it clear we are prepared to work with anyone and everyone on common issues which will take the fire service and the interests of our members forward.

RDS Working Group and Transferability

Following the RDS Seminar in Leicester of September last year an RDS working Group was put together comprising people from CLG, Fire Service College, RFU and FBU. The group is dealing with solely RDS related issues. Transferability, Migration, call it what you will, it’s a hot topic, work is ongoing to crack this issue and unsurprisingly there is common agreement across the group that we need to find a way forward. Sue Evans’ comments at the RDS seminar have certainly helped in this respect. More news on this working group will be available soon.

Subscription increase

At the AGM an increase which reflects the 2007 pay award was approved and subscriptions will increase as from 1 September 2007 to £8.60 per month for full membership, £12.90 for Dual and £4.30 for Associate.

If you liked this newsletter, let us know, if you’re a member and have a suggestion that is printable, again let us know. This is your newsletter and we welcome your comments.