Download

Introduction
The Retained Firefighters Union (RFU) was formed in 1976 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. We have one aim and that is to serve our members, in the form of national/local and legal representation, support and advice on any issue relating to their fire service duties.

We will only represent fire service personnel who have a Retained Duty System contract which ensures that we as a union have no conflicts of interests.

Another major reason for our large membership base is our ‘no-strike’ constitution. By default our members provide an emergency service in the same community in which they live and/or work resulting in a reluctance to take strike action against those who hold them in high regard and are also their own friends, family and neighbours.

The RFU - a Trade Union
The RFU is an independent trade union under the Trade Union & Labour Relations Act 1974. We have no political affiliation and therefore all monies from union subscription are ploughed back into maintaining a first class service which protects our members 24hrs a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year thus providing excellent value for money.

Who is behind the RFU?
The RFU is run for the Retained by the Retained, the majority of the staff at our head office are, or have been Retained firefighters so there is no better understanding of how the Retained system works and how the Retained personnel are best served than by the RFU. The local brigade committees are also serving personnel who can relate to the members which they serve. As you probably know 60% of appliances are crewed by Retained. The RFU is slowly succeeding in educating the general public that Retained firefighters exist and are likely to be crewing their local fire station!

Recognition – National & Local
The National Employers announced in January 2005 that they would recognise the RFU for consultation rights during the interim period until the restructure of the National Joint Council (NJC) (the body that presides over pay and conditions within the fire service) has taken place to include the RFU.

This historic decision by the National Employers then had a knock-on effect on all Fire Services which were then asked by the RFU to mirror the national arrangements. A large number of services actually decided to grant ‘full’ recognition (local collective bargaining) to the RFU due to the imminent agreement at national level.

To find out which level of agreement your brigade has either contact RFU HQ or your RFU local committee.

Local Committee
Each brigade has a RFU committee which is formed to serve its members within that brigade. This normally comprises of:

Chair
Secretary
NEC
Health and Safety

Plus committee members with a remit of;
IPDS
Risk Management (IRMP)
Training & Development
Diversity & Equality
Membership Secretary

These people who are elected annually are there as your first point of contact should a problem arise. On joining the RFU every member is given details of their local contacts.

Representation
Whether it’s an injury on duty, harassment, grievance or just general advice for your Retained duties, the RFU is there to help, support and represent you, after all that’s what you pay your subscription for. We make no judgements and everyone is treated equally and entitled to representation. Other unions unfortunately make their own advance decision on individuals’ ‘guilt’, and decide not to provide support.

Entitlements for RFU members:
• Pension Appeals - For members who might otherwise leave the service with nothing
• Representation in cases of Harassment
• Personal Injury claims
• Pursue claims for members through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
• Representation at Discipline hearings and Suspension
• Support in their Primary Employment
• Help in Obtaining Fair Treatment

.....and the list goes on.

Legal Cover
Our members are backed-up by a legal team that are second to none. They are experienced in understanding the role of a Retained firefighter which, as you know is a unique employment field. Offices are spread throughout the UK so no matter where you are you will be represented. Visit our website for more information.

Representation at National Level
The union is invited to undertake its full role within all the major forums at national level. These are attended by all fire service stakeholders in the role of Committees, Task and Finish groups, Working groups etc.

It is through our local committees that we are able to gauge the opinion of our members to ensure that their voice is heard at the highest level.

The Bain Review & The White Paper
For years the Retained service has suffered from a lack of representation on issues that are crucial to Retained personnel and the service. Other bodies have had the opportunity to change this and have done nothing. The Bain Review and the subsequent White Paper were the best chances the RFU has had to deal with all of these important issues on behalf of the Retained.

The results of both publications (of which approx. 80% of the RFU’s submission has been acted upon) has been the acknowledgment that the Retained Service has been treated as second class compared to the Wholetime Service. There will now be more emphasis from a ministerial level on Retained matters and these ministers are approaching the RFU for guidance. The aims will be to overcome the current 20% shortfall in the Retained establishment and promote outside employers taking on Retained personnel. No longer will the Retained be an afterthought of changes relating to the Wholetime Service!

Subsequently the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has set-up a Retained Review Team (RRT) which will look into the areas of Retained Recruitment and Retention as a platform for raising the profile of the Retained service. This review instigated by the RFU will provide solutions to the current shortage of Retained personnel throughout the UK which at present resides at 20% below establishment levels. The team are due to produce their findings and proposals to the Practitioners Forum (of which the RFU also have a seat) in the summer.

The RFU National Executive Committee (NEC)
The RFU’s National Executive Committee (NEC) is the driving force for RFU policy. Each brigade has an elected representative along with main board consisting of the President, Vice-President and National Officers which meet quarterly. Any member of the RFU is entitled to put their views forward via their NEC rep at these meetings. We endeavour to act as the most democratic union in the fire service making sure the Retained voice is heard. We only represent firefighters on a Retained contract and as such have no conflict with other fire service employee groups.

RFU Policies
An example list below gives you a taste of how the RFU are currently progressing matters for the benefit of Retained personnel in the UK;

• Use of Blue Lights for Retained personnel
• We are the only union to support and represent members who drive through red lights
• Promotion of Wholetime/Retained contracts in all brigades
• Providing the option for Retained personnel to take part in Co/First-Responders schemes
• Retirement from the service being based on fitness and willingness to serve not an age number
• Equality and Fairness for Retained personnel – no more will the Retained Service be seen as a second class service
• A separate Retained Pension Scheme for personnel
• Promoting the benefits of employing Retained personnel to employers

Accident Insurance
The RFU is often asked why it does not offer additional accident insurance the same as another fire service union. The simple fact is that the service we offer ensures that additional insurance is not necessary and therefore highlighting our subscription rate as being very cost-effective.

Personnel need to be made aware of the fact that when they are ‘on duty’, whether this be during training, drill nights or responding to or from a fire call they are insured by the brigade. This begs the question why do you need accident insurance in the first place?

With regard to sickness benefits that other organisations offer we ask personnel to look at the rigid rules which apply to anyone who wishes to claim. Two vital questions to consider joining an accident scheme you need to be asking are;

Is there a period before sickness payment is payable? If so is this a realistic time to be off sick? Once this period has passed will my application for sickness payment be means tested? - This is likely to result in no payment being made.

Further information on this subject can be obtained from RFU Head Office.

Representing Wholetime with a Retained contract
The RFU continues to modernise itself as well as the fire service, proof of this was our decision to include Wholetime firefighters who have a separate Retained contract, due to their lack of representation. This means that while paying a 50% increase in subscriptions the member will have the benefit of having legal cover for their Wholetime employment as well as their Retained duties.

Summary
The sole aim of the RFU is to be the only real option for Retained personnel to look towards for representation in fire service matters. To achieve this, the RFU strives to offer a service that is second to none.

The RFU, run by the Retained for the Retained