Submitted by SWFBU on
TO: ALL MEMBERS
Dear Brother/Sister
PAY: 2014 AND BEYOND
The National Joint Council (NJC) for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services met on 4 June to discuss various issues including that of pay. The NJC is the forum where the FBU negotiates with our Employers on pay and conditions.
The Executive Council had previously agreed the following submission to the Employers on pay:
‘FBU members have suffered falling real living standards for some time. This follows the introduction of a pay freeze by Fire Service Employers and subsequent years of pay restraint.
At the same time other costs have continued to rise substantially, creating increasing hardship for our members. This includes costs specifically arising out of their work within the Fire and Rescue Service. Pension costs for employees in the Fire Service schemes are already among the most expensive in the UK and this has been worsened as a result of three years of contribution increases.
These matters need to be addressed. The FBU therefore seeks a pay rise for 2014 which addresses the issue of falling living standards and rising costs. We also seek a clear commitment from the Employers to address this issue for the long-term in discussions over coming years’.
At the NJC meeting that afternoon the Employers responded as follows:
‘The National Employers have considered the matter of a pay award for 2014. In doing so they have been mindful of the Employees’ Side claim, and a desire to provide a pay increase for all NJC employees, balanced against matters such as affordability.
The National Employers have today agreed to offer an across the board increase of 1.0%. We believe this is the best offer possible and at the limit of what Fire Authorities can manage financially. Therefore we have to advise you that this is a final offer.
We would hope that agreement can be reached quickly so that a pay award can be actioned’.
Need for members’ consultation
We then informed the Employers’ side that the Employees’ side would consult its respective members on the Employers’ offer. These matters are reported in NJC Circular 01/14 a copy of which is attached to this circular.
At the close of the National Joint Council meeting, the Executive Council met to discuss the consultation process. I can report that the Executive Council agreed to consult the members by way of a consultation via the structures of the Union over a six week period concluding around 16 July 2014. The Executive Council will then consider the feedback from and outcome of this consultation.
Accordingly, Regional Secretaries will be notifying Brigade Officials of the date and time of the Regional Committee at which the matter will be discussed and in turn Brigade Officials will be notifying your Branch Officials of the next meeting of your Brigade Committee. Branch Officials will need to make the necessary arrangements for the calling of Branch meetings for members to discuss and vote on the proposals.
Issues for consideration
In considering the claim the Executive Council is acutely aware of the various concerns which have been raised by members with increasing anger.
• Our members have experienced two years of no pay rise followed by pay rises restricted to 1%.
• This has been at a time when key elements of the cost of living have increased significantly.
• As a result the living standards of firefighters, alongside those of other workers, have fallen. As was expressed by the union to the Employers, this is unacceptable and unsustainable.
• Firefighters, including Control members, have suffered increasing pension contributions over the past three years – these have exacerbated the impact of the growing cost of living crisis on our members.
The Executive Council has already begun discussions with the Fire Service Employers about the need to address these issues for the longer-term.
• Our Conference in 2013 discussed a paper on the future of the Fire and Rescue Service.
• This paper identified that (as members will be well aware) the role of our Service has changed in recent years - as it has throughout its history.
• These changes reflect the changing risk facing communities and the need for the Fire and Rescue Service to plan and prepare for such changing risk.
• Our Conference agreed that we would discuss all issues with the Employers, including any issues brought by either side.
• Within such discussions we would raise issues about proper planning, training, adequate resources – and appropriate pay.
• These discussions are currently identifying areas suggested by each side for further work and discussion.
The Executive Council is aware that in certain cases, members may have taken on work which is not within the current role-maps. Our aim within these discussions on pay must be that work undertaken should be properly negotiated and paid for. This is clearly not assisted by local arrangements which ignore national agreements or by individual members who take on work, roles or activity which has not been negotiated, agreed or properly paid for. All Brigade Committees are asked to consider these issues carefully, including any local implications.
The Executive Council is conscious of the need to balance these discussions about future pay structures, arrangements and levels with the immediate needs of members for increases in pay. Members are asked to take account of this in considering the situation we face.
Finally, the Executive Council is acutely aware of the ongoing and increasingly bitter dispute over pensions. This dispute is registered with Government Ministers in England, Wales and Scotland. It is not with the Fire Service Employers. Again, members are asked to take account of the importance of this campaign during discussion and debate on the issue of pay for 2014 and for the future.
Executive Council members will report these discussions in more detail to members through our Committee structure and further information will follow as necessary.
Best wishes.
Yours fraternally
MATT WRACK
GENERAL SECRETARY
