Hutton proposals for firefighter pensions are just a step too far
October 7, 2010 by admin
Filed under News, News - Local, News - National, News for Members, Press Releases, Press releases - national
Firefighters are appalled to learn of the Hutton proposals on pensions, which suggest cuts in their pension provision, increasing their retirement age and upping their pension contributions.
Firefighters already pay up to11% contributions and to suggest an increase in these amounts, combined with the imposed pay freeze and the increase in VAT, is a step too far.
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary said: “FBU members will be united in their anger when they see this attack. They will feel betrayed and will demand that we oppose this unacceptable assault on their pension schemes. We will join with other public sector unions in protecting pension schemes and industrial action cannot be ruled out at this point.”
The firefighters’ pension has recently been reformed substantially and is already fair, sustainable and affordable.
Firefighting is a very physical profession. To suggest increasing retirement ages, is an ill thought out idea which is not in the public interest.
The FBU welcomes the notion of retaining defined benefit schemes, the protection of accrued benefits and understands the necessity to encourage low paid workers to become pension scheme members. But any suggestion that firefighter pension schemes are just too expensive is not accurate and must be challenged.
Contacts:-
Sean Starbuck 07872 837694
Helen Hague 07889 792360
***ENDS***
Stop squandering taxpayers’ money, honour pre-election pledge and scrap FiReControl now – FBU challenges Tories to stop dithering
October 5, 2010 by admin
Filed under Campaigns, FiReControl - Regionalisation of Emergency Fire Controls, News, News - Local, News - National, Press Releases
Tory ministers in the Coalition government were today challenged to call time on the flawed and costly plan to regionalise fire control in England.
Since the last General Election the botched and wasteful FiReControl project has cost the tax payer £6.5M just for rent on empty buildings.
In the run-up to the election, both the Tories – holding their party conference in Birmingham this week – and the Lib-Dems pledged to scrap FiReControl, the project which aims to replace 46 local fire control centres with nine big new centres covering the whole country.
The ill-fated FiReControl Project has been plagued by IT delays, contractual problems and missed deadlines. No computers have been installed, and the project is already £300M over budget. It was branded “a complete disaster area” by Clive Betts, chair of the Communities Select Committee a few months ago. The main contractor EADS came under fire at the committee.
The focus is now on Tory and Liberal Democrat MPs who opposed the project before the election. The FBU challenges them to deliver on their promises to scrap FiReControl now they are in power.
Eric Pickles, Minister for Communities and Local Government, told the Communities committee that a system designed to navigate appliances to fires or floods could not do so over huge swathes of the country.
Clearly exasperated, he criticised EADS, FiReControl’s main contractor, for failing to meet deadlines, or even co-operate with a departmental team drafted in to help sort on-going problems. He promised a decision would be taken soon on FiReControl’s future – yet costs continue to mount. * SEE ATTACHMENT OBTAINED UNDER FOI
The FBU has consistently criticised FiReControl, calling for more investment in existing centres. A project relying on untested technology to replace control staff’s knowledge, experience and intelligence risks compromising public safety. Continued support for the project flies in the face of the “Localism” and “Value for Money” philosophy that the Coalition claims underpin its policies.
Sharon Riley, FBU Executive Council Member representing control staff, called for a swift decision to ditch FiReControl, which was sapping both resources and morale in the service. “We know that in the current economic climate every penny counts. Everyone’s having to do their bit, tighten their belts and make savings to pay for a situation which was not of our making.
“The Government should scrap this project now, saving the tax payer millions, and invest in existing fire controls across England. “
Missed deadlines and huge overspend apart, the thinking behind FiReControl is deeply flawed. The public should be aware of what the FiReControl Project would mean for them, says Sharon Riley. “Instead of relying on experienced local fire fighter control staff, calls could be answered hundreds of miles away. The South West Regional Control Centre is in Taunton, for instance – so if you live in Truro and phone 999, you will be put through to Somerset. However, the Project relies on a network of 9 RCCs. If your regional control centre is busy your call will be put through to any available operator on the network at any of the other RCCs anywhere in the country. So in Truro, your call could be answered in Newcastle”
Contacts:-
Sharon Riley 07889 088423
Helen Hague 07889 792360
***ENDS***
Fire Bridades Union concerned about merger of Isle of Wight Fire Control Centre to Surrey
September 23, 2010 by admin
Filed under Campaigns, News, News - Local, News - National, Press Releases, Press releases - local
FIRE BRIGADES UNION
IMMEDIATE MEDIA RELEASE: 23rd September 2010
Fire Bridades Union concerned about merger of Isle of Wight Fire Control Centre to Surrey
At the Isle of Wight Council Full Council meeting, held on Wednesday 22 September 2010, Councillors voted through plans for an ‘in principle’ decision to move the Island’s emergency 999 Fire Control Centre to Reigate in Surrey.
The Fire Brigades Union are deeply concerned that these proposals are hastily being moved forward, to the extent that full public consultation and scrutiny is being pushed aside, with the issue of the Island’s Fire Control not due to return to a Full Council Meeting (rather a delegated decision at a future Cabinet Meeting) for full, open and proper debate.
Andrew Cooper, Isle of Wight FBU Fire Control Chairman, “Councillors must provide the public with a full consultation process before making a decision which will affect the safety of all island residents, visitors and businesses. At present Island residents and businesses are being denied the opportunity for such a full public consultation on the issue their local Fire Control. We do not believe island residents will be happy to have their emergency calls to the Fire Service answered in another county. Councillors must now also listen to Firefighters and Firefighters (Control) before making any further decisions on the proposal to have emergency 999 fire calls answered in Reigate, Surrey.
If adopted the level of service received by Island Tax Payers will be inferior to the exemplary and resilient service they currently enjoy.”
Ricky Matthews, Regional Secretary Fire Brigades Union (Southern Region) who also attended the Full Council meeting said “Cllr David Pugh , Cllr Barry Abraham, Cllr Roger Mazillius and this administration appear to be more than happy to accept awards to the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, achieved by the work of Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service staff in moving the service forward and achieving ever higher standards. However, when those same professional Firefighters and Firefighters (Control) are of the strong professional opinion that moving the Island Fire Control Centre will provide an inferior level of service to that currently delivered and increase the life risk to Island residents, visitors, businesses and Firefighters, such views and serious concerns are being sidelined and cast aside.”
Firefighters and Firefighters (Control) urge all Councillors to discover for themselves the true extent to which Firefighters rely on accurate and reliable emergency call information, only truly achievable with local knowledge, which fundamentally affects the safety of island residents, visitors and Firefighters.
Additionally, we urge Island residents and businesses to write to their local County and Parish councillors, as well as Island MP Andrew Turner, to express their views on this naive and ill-conceived proposal.
Councillors should be mindful that in a recent YouGov survey (13th September 2010) eight out of ten (85%) of the public oppose government plans to cut funding in the Fire and Rescue Service.
The proposed closure of the Islands Fire Control is a cut to the Fire Service.
It would appear that Councillors know the cost of everything but the value of nothing.
Ends
Notes to Editors:
YouGov surveyed 1,020 adults between 16 –27 August 2010. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from a YouGov Plc survey commissioned by The Fire Brigade Union. The survey was carried out online among a nationally representative sample of 1020 adults aged 18+ in the UK between 16-27 August 2010. Data is weighted to be nationally representative based on age, gender, social grade and region.
The Isle of Wight Council are proposing to close the Isle of Wight Fire Control Centre in Newport, Isle of Wight, with the calls answered by the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service Control.
Councillors were only given twenty-four hours notice of the additional items on the agenda for the Full Council meeting, including the issue of the Island’s Fire Control Centre.
The FBU understands the issue will now be subject to a ‘full scoping study’, which will take 3-4 months, before being returned to a future Cabinet Meeting (delegated decision). As a result, the closure of the Island’s Fire Control Centre could take place within 8 months (April/May 2011).
Save Isle of Wight Fire Control Campaign website: http://www.firewontwait.com
Contacts:
Andrew Cooper, Chairman, Isle of Wight FBU: 07889 182 762
Paul Watts, Control Staff National Rep. (Southern Region) 07917 065 889
Ricky Matthews, FBU Regional Secretary (Southern Region) 07917 065 863
http://www.fbur12.org.uk
http://www.fbu.org.uk