Pay Claim 2010

CIRCULAR: 2010HOC0316MW

05 May 2010

TO: ALL MEMBERS

Dear Brother / Sister

PAY CLAIM 2010

Members will be aware that the Union’s position on pay has been to seek a long-term formula such as existed prior to 2002. This would avoid the potential of difficulties arising in relation to annual pay bargaining and would provide the stability which we think is necessary for delivering a first-class Fire and Rescue Service. Regrettably the Fire and Rescue Service Employers have consistently rejected such an approach.

The Executive Council has given consideration to the issue of pay for 2010. This has included consultation with Brigade, Regional and Sectional Committees. Following this discussion it was agreed to submit a pay claim for 2010 as follows: That there should be an increase in all NJC rates of pay equal to the percentage increase in inflation as identified by the Retail Price Index (RPI) for June 2010.

This is an extremely moderate claim but one which is based on the principle that Firefighters’ pay should increase so as to ensure that living standards can be maintained. It is also clear to us any attempt to reduce real wages would have a dangerous and detrimental impact on the prospects for economic recovery.

Firefighters have seen significant changes to their roles and responsibilities since 2004 and they have the right to expect that their pay will not suffer real reductions after demonstrating such commitment to the development of an outstanding public service.

This claim has now been communicated to the Employers. Members will be kept informed of developments.

Best wishes.

Yours fraternally

MATT WRACK

GENERAL SECRETARY

British Airways Cabin Crew Dispute – speech by BASSA/Unite at FBU Conference, April 2010

British Airways Cabin Crew Dispute – speech by BASSA/Unite at FBU Conference, April 2010

Officers AGM/Seminar 2010 and CSNC AGM/Seminar 2010, held at Wortley Hall, Wortley, Sheffield, Yorkshire, 14th-15th April 2010.

Guest speech from a volunteer for BASSA/Unite, Penny White, for a joint session of the Officers and CSNC, discussing the ongoing BA Cabin Crew dispute British Airways Management, along with the associated BA Cabin Crew strike action.

A revealing speech, which cuts through some of the myths and spin of the media, press and British Airways.

Related links:

BASSA
Unite
British Airways
FBU

Wortley Hall

Thanks for re-election and an appeal for unity

CIRCULAR: 2010HOC0303MW

28 April 2010

TO: ALL MEMBERS

Dear Brother / Sister

THANKS FOR RE-ELECTION AND AN APPEAL FOR UNITY

I would like to express my thanks at being re-elected as General Secretary. It has been a huge honour to hold this position for the past five years. Having stood for re-election on my record, I am extremely pleased and proud that members have given me a mandate to serve for a second term. I wish to particularly thank the wide layer of officials and activists throughout the Union who campaigned on my behalf.

The future of our Service

The past five years have been among the most difficult ever faced by our Union. Under the guise of so-called ‘modernisation’, we have seen our jobs and conditions of service attacked relentlessly. As a result, we have seen more industrial disputes during the past five years than at any time in the Union’s history, as members have fought to defend local services and resist attempts to impose detrimental change. On every single occasion, members engaged in such fights have had the full and wholehearted support of myself, of the Head Office team, the Executive Council – and indeed of members throughout the UK. I pledge that this will continue to be the case for as long as I am General Secretary.

Nobody wants to see industrial action in the Fire and Rescue Service but Fire Service politicians and Chief Officers should take note that FBU members will not allow our Service to be dismantled under the cuts agenda we now face.

After the General Election we are likely to face an even tougher time. All the main parties have talked of the need to make major cuts in public spending. For us that is likely to mean:

•Further attempts to cut jobs and services.

•Further attacks on our pensions.

•Further attacks on shifts and other conditions of service.

•Further restrictions on pay.

•The continued threat to our Emergency Fire Controls.

In these circumstances, there are no easy answers for us. Anyone who claims otherwise is being either naive or dishonest. We face the prospect of the worst cuts in living memory – and we need to be prepared to fight back to resist them.

We have campaigned for the past five years to highlight and defend the role of our Service and we have especially challenged those who seek to undermine the emergency intervention role of Firefighters. We have done this through our campaigning on Firefighter fatalities, on flood response and against Control Regionalisation. As part of this campaigning, we have held some of the largest trade union lobbies of Parliament in recent years – despite that fact that we are very far from being the largest trade union in the UK. This year we hope to build on this work by campaigning around the theme of Fire Service response times as a part of our battle against the cuts.

I am acutely conscious that the threat of attacks has not disappeared. The Employers and Government seem as determined as ever to pursue their damaging agenda. But I firmly believe that our Union is better-placed than it has been for a long time to confront them.

With extremely tough battles to come, we will need to be united and organised as never before. I appeal to all members and officials to unite to defend our Service and our profession from the cuts and attacks we will all face in the coming period.

Let’s move forward together.

Thank you

Best wishes.

Yours fraternally

MATT WRACK

GENERAL SECRETARY

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