Report - Fire Brigades Union

SECTION H — EDUCATION
The final session of the day was a plenary event to receive
presentations from all the groups on the results of their visits
to the National Coal Mining Museum and Wilberforce House.
These were excellent presentations and clearly demonstrated
the learning that had taken place during the whole school and
highlighted the value of the visits. The participants were
congratulated for their lively and passionate contributions.
The highlight of the evening was the National School quiz
organised by the FBU national organiser, Daniel Giblin.
Friday, the sixth and final day, started with a plenary session
entitled “Challenges facing the FBU and the wider trade union
and labour movement under the coalition government” led by
Matt Wrack, general secretary. This was followed by a
question and discussion session with the school then breaking
off into groups to consider their action plans following on from
the whole of the school.
Members, in a review of the school, scored it as extremely
successful. Some of the attendees’ comments are worth
recording in this annual report:
“Intense, but of excellent value, I learnt a lot of things.”
“Very good; fantastic speakers, extremely valuable.”
“This course is essential for officials. It gives great
knowledge and most importantly, instils confidence and
beliefs.”
“Very high value course. Allows members to obtain the
confidence to change things.”
“Excellent course, very valuable; good learning points
from tutors and other members.”
“Excellent content pitched at the right level, the
subjects all connected well together.”
“Essential for all active officials, networking with
others.”
“Great experience – feel informed and prepared to
move forward.”
“Brilliant, it consolidated last year’s education, thank
you.”
The closure of the 2010 National School was overseen by
Sean Starbuck, national officer, who thanked all those who had
participated in whatever capacity for their contribution to the
school.
The executive council would like to thank all speakers, tutors
and students for making this an extremely successful and
enjoyable school and place on record its thanks in particular to
the class chairs – Ian Murray, Karl Horan, Pete Smith, Pete
Wilcox – and the tutors – John Botterill, Katherine Fry, Julie
Heselwood and Paddy Hutchinson – for their assistance in the
planning of the school and their active and enthusiastic
involvement, and also to Daniel Giblin for his work behind the
scenes. Special thanks must also be given to Trevor Cave and
Sean Starbuck for all the work that they put in before and
during this year’s event.
H3 B&EMM School 2010
B&EMM School 2010 was, as always, over-subscribed and
received 61 applications to attend, of which 12 were first-time
students. Due to the financial restraints placed on the school,
student numbers were reduced to 45, and therefore some
B&EMM members had to be informed that a reservation list
had to be used to regulate places.
Due to industrial action in London only members who were off
duty were able to attend, as all trade union leave had been
withdrawn. Regrettably this meant that only 10 members were
able to attend from London Fire Brigade.
The school TUC tutor was Theresa Bennett and guests
included retired B&EMM national chair Leroy Phillpotts, FBU
president Mick Shaw, Frank Bailey (honorary B&EMM), Jagtar
Singh (Asian Fire Service Association) and Cordell Pillay,
assistant general secretary of the National Association of
Probation Officers (Napo). Members attended from across all
roles and heritage, from Turkey, Seychelles, the Middle East,
India, Pakistan, the Caribbean and Africa.
The 2010 school was officially opened by B&EMM vice chair
Carole Brown (Region 11), who welcomed all and introduced
FBU president Mick Shaw to the school for the last time as he
was due to retire at the end of the year.
The first session discussed B&EMM and its development,
structure and progression. It consisted of an introductory
session and showed the B&EMM film Rise to the Challenge,
followed by a discussion about the aims and objectives of the
school from an individual’s perspective.
The president then gave a presentation on the current situation
for FBU members in light of the anticipated spending review
from the new government and outlined the expectation that
the union faced attacks on our terms and conditions, pensions
and jobs like never before. The students then had a lively and
informative Q and A session with the president for over an
hour before adjourning for the day.
The first session of the second day continued with more detail
on the part that B&EMM plays in the FBU and trade unionism
as a whole.
The FBU president gave an overview of the current situation in
London and outlined that the London Fire and Emergency
Planning Authority (LFEPA) was trying to force its workforce to
accept changes by dismissing everyone and then forcing them
to sign new contracts. He reported on the fact that the
members had responded, with an overwhelming majority
voting to take strike action.
B&EMM national secretary Samantha Samuels gave a report
of the national committee’s representation over the last year
and spoke about the new challenges facing the union due to
the change of government and their dilution of the equality and
diversity agenda. She also told the school about the B&EMM
144 FBU Annual Report 2011