June - Fbu.me.uk

Trade Union Magazine of the YearThe magazine of the Fire Brigades Union > www.fbu.org.uk June 2010SURREY8 MINUTESDEVON/SOMERSET10 MINUTESEAST SUSSEX13 MINUTESGRAMPIAN?It’s about timeWhy the FBU has launched a majorcampaign for national standards ofresponse timeSee p12

further attacks on shifts and otherconditions of servicecontinued threats to our emergencyfire controls.We face the prospect of the worst cutsin living memory – and we need to beprepared to fight back to resist them.We have campaigned for the past fiveyears to highlight and defend the role ofour service. We have held some of thelargest trade union lobbies of parliamentin recent years – despite the fact that weare very far from being the largest tradeunion in the UK.This year we plan to build on thiswork by campaigning around the themeof fire service response times as a part ofour battle against the cuts.I am acutely conscious that the6FBU conferencedelegates planfor the futurethreat of attacks has not disappeared.The employers and government areas determined as ever to pursuetheir damaging agenda. But I firmlybelieve that our union is better placedthan it has been for a long time toconfront them.And I can pledge this. As long as I amgeneral secretary, members engagedin such action will have the full andwholehearted support of myself, thehead office team and the executivecouncil. I believe they can count on thesupport of other members throughoutthe UK.General secretary electionI would like to express my thanks atbeing re-elected as general secretary.It has been a great honour to hold thisposition for the past five years.Having stood for re-election on myrecord, I am immensely proud thatmembers have given me a mandate toserve for a second term.I wish to particularly thank thewide layer of officials and activiststhroughout the union who campaignedon my behalf.With extremely tough battles to come,we will need to be united and organisedas never before.I appeal to all members and officialsto unite to defend our service and ourprofession from the cuts and attacks wewill all face in the coming period.Let’s move forward together.Matt WrackGet yourcopyNot gettingyour owncopy ofFirefighterat home?Make sureyou haveinformedyourbrigadesecretaryof anyrecentchange ofaddressSTEAFANO CAGNONI■■Published by the Fire Brigades Union,Bradley House, 68 Coombe Road,Kingston upon Thames KT2 7AEwww.fbu.org.uk■■Design by Edition Periodicals,241 Ferndale Road,London SW9 8BJwww.editionperiodicals.co.uk■■Printed by SouthernprintLtd,17–21 Factory Road,Poole, Dorset BH16 5SNJune 2010 FireFighter 3

NewsJune 2010> Latest news> Sounding off> Conference reportROMFORD RECORDERLondon firefighters demonstrated against Brian Coleman earlier this year at the opening of Harold Hill fire station in RomfordShifts dispute ‘looks inevitable’LONDONFBU members look likely to take industrialaction in London this month in along-running dispute over shifts after“relentless attacks” on members’ conditionsby brigade management.London fire brigade has tabled proposalsto alter the working patterns of firefighters.The controversial proposals – firstannounced in 2005 – have caused muchanxiety among the workforce.While the brigade says publicly thatit wishes to reach a collective agreementwith the FBU, union officials are sceptical,pointing out that the brigade’s negotiatorshave not shifted their position in four years,despite their proposals being opposed by98% of firefighters.Ian Leahair, FBU executive councilmember for London, said: “Our concernshave not been addressed. We await the nextmeeting of London Fire and EmergencyPlanning Authority, but we anticipate thatthe dispute short of strike would commenceBrigade negotiators havenot shifted their positionin four years, despite theirproposals being opposedby 98% of firefighterswith a ballot of the London membership inearly to mid-June.“Should the authority decide to imposechange at its meeting in June, we would seekto ballot members for strike action againstsuch imposition.”At present, membership consultation istaking place through London FBU regionalcommittee members.Leahair said: “Given the brigade’s relentlessattacks on our members’ conditions ofservice, it looks inevitable that industrialaction will take place in London during thesummer months.“In our opinion the London mayor BorisJohnson could go some way to prevent suchaction by recognising a major stumblingblock for good industrial relations inLondon is Brian Coleman, his appointedchair of the authority. Coleman’s dictatorialand arrogant approach to trade unionsand negotiations continues to cause unrestamongst firefighters.”He added: “We call on the mayor toremove Brian Coleman so that the Londonfire brigade can negotiate properly withthe FBU.”4 FireFighter June 2010

FBU: Government hasno mandate for cutsGENERAL ELECTIONThere is no mandate for cuts in publicservices, the FBU has warned. MattWrack, FBU general secretary warnedthe new Con-Dem government: “We donot believe that people voted to see theiremergency and other essential publicservices cut, to pay for the banks’ bail out.“Cuts mean firefighters take longer to getto an emergency, perhaps because the nearestfire station has been closed, perhaps becausethere are not enough firefighters to crew afire appliance, perhaps because there are notenough to deal with the number of incidents,perhaps because night cover has been cut.“We have already seen firefighter jobscut over the past five years. As a result, livesare being lost that could have been saved.REGIONAL CONTROLThe FBU has told thenew government that itmust keep its promisesto scrap the failed regionalcontrol project.During the election, FBUmember Graham Donaldsonquestioned David Cameronabout the project on the BBCLook North programme.Cameron told him: “OneNew national officerDAVE GREENDave Green has been elected as nationalofficer, taking up his post at the startof annual conference. Green defeatedPhil Jordan, winning 58% of the vote. Hewas previously the executive council (EC)member for region 6.Dave Green said: “There is no doubtthat we face challenging times ahead as theextent of the proposed cuts across the publicsector become known. FBU head office willplay a key role in coordinating our responseand organising campaigns against any detrimentalproposals: from whatever sourcethey come from. The union must be unitedin defending our members and the servicefrom attacks in such areas as fire cover, pay,pensions and terms and conditions.”FBU members lobby MPs against cutsThe Fire Brigades Union will fight to stopour service from being cut to pieces. Localcommunities and workers in the publicservices will need to fight as never before todefend our vital public services.”‘Now keep promises on controls’thing we would do to tryand stop waste is the regionalisationof the fire service,the so-called ‘FiReControlscheme’; it was going to cost£100 million, it’s now costing£420 million. We will want tostop that in its tracks.”The Conservative policygreen paper, Control shift:Returning power to localcommunities, promised to“abandon plans to regionalisefire control (whileproviding new measures toenhance resilience in the caseof a national emergency).”Similar comments weremade by Liberal Democratsto Firefighter magazine inMarch. The FBU wantsan undertaking that theFiReControl project will bescrapped, with a timetablefor the upgrading of existingcontrol rooms.Action is suspendedESSEXEssex fire crews have agreed atemporary suspension of industrialaction to help reach a negotiatedagreement in the long-running dispute.Essex fire station reps agreed torecommend the suspension on 29 April. Itwas extended on 13 May. Essex firefightershave been taking action short of strike fornine months over cuts and other issues.Essex FBU secretary Keith Flynn said:“It’s now in the hands of both sides’ negotiatorsto seize this window of opportunityto iron out the final details for a potentialsettlement. However, if we are unable todeliver acceptable terms – in sufficient detail– then the window may close and industrialaction may resume.”STEFANO CAGNONIJANINA STRUKSounding off!KERRY BAIGENTFBU national women’scommittee secretaryThe truth about the KateEllis discrimination caseWhat really happened to firefighter Kate Ellisin Hampshire fire and rescue service is not atall what the papers would have us believe.Kate’s case was widely reported by thetabloid press, but typically the reporting leanton one small aspect of her evidence and noton the main facts of her case.The actual story is that Hampshire fireand rescue service conceded that Kate hadsuffered:sex discriminationsexual harassmentvictimisationa detriment (in the form of a dismissal),andhad been unfairly constructivelydismissed.John Warren, the employment tribunalchair, said of the brigade’s first witness: “Thisis becoming embarrassing. As long as I havebeen a chairman, I have never seen a witnessso comprehensively have their evidencedemolished.”Kate Ellis contacted me a few years ago totalk to “another woman” about the treatmentKerry Baigent: Kate Ellis received wonderfulsupport from FBUthat she was receiving from some of her non-FBU colleagues at Kingsclere fire station. Sherecounted the horrific experiences to me andsaid: “I just want it to stop.”Kate talked about the wonderful supportthat she was receiving from her FBU brigadeofficials – both of whom are male and havecontinued to give her unswerving support –and other firefighters in Hampshire.Kate’s brave decision to take a grievanceout in a bid to “just make the treatment stop”was incredibly not upheld by Hampshire fireand rescue service. Even worse, she wassubjected to disciplinary action, while themale colleagues who had treated her so badlycarried on with their daily lives.Kate was left with no choice other thanto resign from the job she loved and to takeher case further to an employment tribunal.Kate had the full support of the Fire BrigadesUnion in doing so, and her win is also avictory for the FBU.June 2010 FireFighter 5

FBU CONFERENCEConference 2010Mick Shaw: Unionneeds maximumunity for thechallenges aheadPresidentwarns oftoughtimesaheadMICK SHAWFBU president Mick Shaw warned conference ofcoming attacks on pay, pensions and conditionsof service from the new Con-Dem government.He argued that with retail price index inflationstanding at 5.3%, any government-imposed payfreeze would represent a real cut in living standardsfor firefighters. He said: “I wouldn’t mind austerityif I felt those who could most afford to pay werepaying their fair share.”Shaw pointed to the supposed need for the newgovernment to listen to the markets. He said: “Wehear it every day. The markets are worried. Themarkets say we must do this.“Who are these markets? These markets are infact the same bankers who created the crisis in thefirst place.”And Shaw said the bankers’ bonus culture hadspread to fire chiefs. “Chief fire officers are beingawarded six-figure pay-outs plus huge bonuses.They have fallen into that culture. We say this is notacceptable.”Speaking about the general election, Shaw saidthe result could have been a lot worse. He said hehad feared the FBU’s parliamentary group wouldbe wiped out. As it was, two key members, LabourMPs Andrew Dismore and David Drew, narrowlylost their seats. Shaw praised their “excellent work”representing the union’s interests in the last parliament.The BNP had been well beaten, he added.Shaw urged delegates to have comradely discussionsabout strategy and tactics in the new politicalsituation, to achieve “maximum unity” in thestruggles ahead.Speaking at his last conference as president, Shawsaid he hoped the union would be “united, strongand determined” in the period ahead.Campaign forrepeal ofanti-union lawsTRADE UNION RIGHTSConference pledged to lobbythe TUC for a campaignto repeal anti-trade unionlaws, after court judgementsthat challenged the right to takeeffective strike action.MarkRowe (right),MerseysideFBU membershipsecretaryand the moverof the motion,said thatrecent courtjudgments encouraged employersto seek “legal redress” rather thannegotiate with unions.He said: “There is no obligationon the employer to cooperatewith the union. It would make ahuge difference if this employerbias was removed.”Delegates pointed to rulingsin the BA cabin crew disputethat made it almost impossibleto comply with the law, particularlyif the workforce operatedworldwide.Rowe added: “Using thecourts is a clear and coordinatedaction by employers to stopunion members exercising theirhuman rights.”Delegates pay their respects to brothers who died on duty6 FireFighter June 2010

Don’t attack our payPAYFBU conference sent a clear message tothe Con-Dem government that there willbe a fight over pay in the next year or so.Paul Wilson from Strathclyde FBU moveda resolution calling on the executive councilto agree an annual pay formula in the face ofthe coming onslaught against public sectorworkers. He said: “The coalition is hell-benton slashing funds for the public sector. Wewant our pay formula aligned to other professionalsof appropriate comparison.”FBU general secretary Matt Wrack warnedof a pay dispute in the coming years. Headded: “I am putting the employers on notice.Engage with us properly or you will have onehell of a fight on your hands.”Wrack argued that the union hadappointed a subcommittee to look into theissue of pay formulas. He said: “The unionhas been committed to having a multi-yearpay formula. It is nonsense to go through thenegotiation year in, year out.”He said: “We need to be clear – theemployers have said they are not convinced bya long-term pay formula and we will not tradeoff our hard-won terms and conditions forminute increases in pay.”Wrack warned that the union would notIT’S ABOUT TIMEConference agreed an executive councilproposal for a campaign aroundresponse times as part of the union’swider defence of standards in the service.The campaign follows an initiative bythe FBU in Scotland, also called It’s AboutTime, aimed at achieving a Scottish responsestandard. The executive council agreedto make the need for rapid and adequateemergency intervention a central theme ofcampaigning across the UK.General secretary Matt Wrack argued thatresponse times matter because it makes adifference when people are rescued. He said:“There are people who might be dead today,but are alive because of the intervention offirefighters. There are people who might havefar more serious injuries, but for the rapidresponse of firefighters. We do the job becauseMatt Wrack: employers trying to use economic situation to bully members into accepting pay freezesallow middle managers to be sacrificed bythe employers to deliver small increases inpay for firefighters. He said: “The issue ofpay is becoming increasingly difficult. Ouremployers are using the economic situation tobully our members into accepting pay freezes.”The FBU has submitted a pay claim for2010 in line with inflation, after discussionsResponse times campaignwill defend wider standardswe want to help people – and that’s why we’reright to be angry that response times haveincreased in recent years.”The campaign will include building thecase for sufficient investment to allow localfire and rescue services to plan properly foremergency intervention. This must includeensuring adequate resources (firefighters,appliances and equipment) to enable fires andother emergency incidents to be tackled safelyand professionally.The campaign will build on work alreadyundertaken by the union around the centralimportance of emergency intervention.The resolution committed the executivecouncil to develop a campaign for the introductionof national standards of emergencyresponse. The union will support such anapproach in all parts of the UK and willpursue this aim through all the appropriategovernment bodies.Scottish governmentbacks FBU driveFERGUS EWINGPaul Wilson:Coalitionhell-benton slashingfunds forpublic sectorwith officials from around the country. TheFBU executive council, in consultation withbrigade, regional and sectional committees,submitted the claim last month. The unionwants an increase in all NJC rates of pay equalto the percentage increase in inflation asidentified by the retail price index (RPI) forJune 2010.Scottish fire minister Fergus Ewing(below) announced the formation of aworking group to investigate responsetimes, with the FBU represented on theadvisory body. He told delegates: “I am todayannouncing that I will be asking the advisoryunit, services and union tolook at the formation of aworking group to reviewresponse times in Scotland.”He added: “Given theincreasing pressure onfunding, I stress that thisreview and recommendationsmust be delivered against future budgetconstraints.”Ewing, the first Scottish minister to addressFBU conference, promised to continue to workclosely with the union. Senior Scottish governmentofficials regularly meet with the FBU. Hesaid he had “personally met union colleagueson over 20 occasions in the last year alone”.June 2010 FireFighter 7

FBU CONFERENCETUC calls for fair wayout of economic crisisFRANCES O’GRADYThe new parliament is not new politics,but old politics, TUC deputy generalsecretary Frances O’Grady told theconference. “It’s got more Oxbridge graduatesthan women, twice as many old Etonians asethnic minorities,” she said. “Around a quartercome from just one occupational group:bankers. Although lots of them had secondjobs too – as consultants to hedge funds.”Who will pay for the economic crisis “islikely to become the defining issue of the nextparliament,” O’Grady said. “We must notallow the jobs, pensions and public services ofordinary working people to become the line ofleast resistance.“Our public sector deficit wasn’t causedby having too many firefighters, nurses orteachers. It wasn’t caused by providing publicsector workers with a modest pension in theirold age. It was caused by a handful of greedybankers and speculators.“We will protect the jobs, pay and pensionsof public servants who did nothing to causethis mess.”She outlined a three-point plan to escapeAlan Mileswith aBreakingRocksgraduateGuitar heroesON THE FRINGEConference fringe hosted Breaking Rocks, an inspiringdocumentary telling the story of Jail Guitar Doors,a charity which provides musical instruments toprisoners to help facilitate rehabilitation and preventre-offending.The film is directed by FBU member Alan Miles andfeatures performances by graduates of Jail Guitar Doors aswell as from artists who have supported the programme,including Mick Jones (the Clash), Chris Shiflett (FooFighters), Sam Duckworth (Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly) andBilly Bragg.The fringe meeting included music from Jonny Neesomand Leon Walker from Jail Guitar Doors.O’Grady: clamp down on tax avoidancefrom economic crisis: “First, fair taxation,including a clampdown on the £25 billiontax avoidance industry and a supertax on thesuper rich.“Second, priorities. We don’t need to wastebillions on expensive consultants, failed ITprojects, arbitrary reforms, pointless markettesting exercises and needless privatisations.Nor should we squander billions on therenewal of Trident.“Third, investment for growth.”She said this meant investment in publicservices, education and a faster and greenertransport system.DomesticviolenceEQUALITYThe trade union movementmust take up the issue ofdomestic violence if it isserious about equality, nationalwomen’s committee member JoByrne (below) told delegates.Conference unanimouslybacked a resolution to tackledomesticviolence, whichaccounts forone-fifth ofall UK violentincidents.“Domesticviolence is a blight on society andcan only be fought by challengingsexist attitudes in society,” saidByrne. Firefighters saw the resultsof domestic violence in theirwork. Arson was increasinglyused as an act of revenge againstwomen and children.Solidaritywith workersof ColombiaINTERNATIONALConference gave a very warm welcome toa Colombian trade union leader, whoexplained how in his country being atrade unionist is a matter of life or death.Jorge Gamboa, an executive memberof CUT, the largest union federation inColombia, led oil workers in a campaignagainst privatisation in 2007-08. He was thesubject of an assassination attempt by policeand now has to travel with bodyguards.Since CUT was founded in 1986, some2,700 trade unionists have been murdered.Gamboa urged the FBU to join thecampaign to free trade unionists and politicalprisoners from Colombian jails.He said the neo-liberal model was theMatt Wrack with Jorge Gamboaenemy of every worker in the world and wasthe cause of hunger and poverty.He urged delegates to press the UKgovernment on human rights abuses by theColombian army and to lobby against theproposed free trade agreement betweenColombia and the European Union.> > Justice for Colombia: www.justiceforcolombia.org‘More should bedone for Haiti’Conference recognised the tremendouswork done by firefighters in Haiti andpledged to continue campaigning toassist the country through the TUC.An emergency resolution from theFBU black and ethnic minority members(B&EMM) committee paid tribute to theunion’s “humanitarian, political and financialresponses” to the earthquake in January. FBUmembers were involved in carrying out lifesavingrescues.Speaking for the resolution, AndreFernandes, B&EMM rep for region 12, saidthat “much more needs to be done in order toreconstruct and develop Haitian society, infrastructureand economy”.8 FireFighter June 2010

RESPONSETable 1 Average response times forprimary fires in EnglandSource: CLG Review of Fire and RescueService response times: Fire ResearchSeries 1/2009, Table 3, page 17DOMINIC LIPINSKI/PA PHOTOSAverage response time (minutes)Increase inPrimary fire category 1996 2006response timeDwelling fires 5.5 6.5 18%Other buildings fires 5.7 6.8 19%Vehicle fires 6.7 7.9 18%Outdoor fires 9.7 11.1 14%and reduce injuries, both to the public andto firefighters.The Entec consultancy reports NationalRisk Assessment of Dwellings (1996) andResponse Time Fatality Relationships forDwelling Fires (1998) indicated that the probabilityof fire death was linked to the attendancetime of fire appliances.If appliances could attend in less than fiveminutes, the probability of death was 3.8 perhundred fires. If appliances took six to 10minutes to attend a fire, the probability ofdeath was 4.2 per hundred fires (see Figure 1).The implication is clear: beyond fiveminutes, any increase in attendance timemeans an increase in the probability offire death.Entec estimated that there would be a 20%increase in the number of fire-related deathsper year – 115 additional deaths – with afive-minute increase (slower) in attendancetimes nationwide. It also concluded that therewould be a 7% decrease in the number of firerelateddeaths nationwide per annum – 39lives saved – with a five-minute reduction(faster) in attendance times.It’s about homesThe CLG report found a “strong correlation”between average loss per fire and responsetimes and calculated that increases hadalready caused £307m of additional losses.The insurance industry has also seenlarger real-terms rises in insured losses. TheAssociation of British Insurers (ABI) reportTackling Fire: A Call for Action (December2009) said: “The number of fires hasbeen falling, but the cost of these has beenincreasing.” Fire damage claims in the firsthalf of 2009 cost £639m. Between 2002 and2008 the cost of the average fire claim for bothcommercial and domestic fires doubled to£21,000 and £8,000 respectively.The impact of fire on the environment haslong been recognised. Fires in the UK releasearound 2m tonnes of carbon dioxide into theatmosphere every year. Urban fires can blightthe built environment for a long time. Andlonger response times mean grassland fires inrural areas will burn areas of natural beauty,scarring the landscape and engulfing propertyand crops. It is the business of the fire andProbability of death per fire(persons reported)0.180.160.140.120.100.080.060.040.020.00Figure 1 Relationship of fire deathlinked to attendance time of fireappliances (Entec reports)rescue service to protect the environment.Our own and future generations depend on it.For national standardsBefore 2004 there were national guidelineson standards of fire cover. These guidelineswere universally treated as minimumstandards. Firefighters and fire and rescueservices prided themselves on saving seconds1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 >20Attendance Time (minutes from alert)14 FireFighter June 2010

wherever possible and arriving at fires wellinside the minimum standard time.Under the old national standards of fire cover,the level of service the public received from itsfire brigade depended on where you lived.While there was different service provisionbetween town and country, there wasalso a levelling effect. Cities and villages haddifferent standards of fire cover, but broadlyevery city had the same standard of serviceas the others and broadly every village hadthe same standard of service as other villages.The FBU believes that each country withinthe UK should adopt a national standard. Insetting standards, governments should startfrom the principle of providing genuineand progressive improvement in the serviceprovided to the public. That is why the unionhas published its report, It’s about time.The emergency planning process withinthe fire and rescue service must also includeensuring there are adequate resources (firefighters,control staff, appliances and equipment)to enable fires and other emergencyincidents to be tackled safely and professionally.The first intervention in any emergencyincident will be the receipt of a call for assistanceby fire control. National standards mustensure adequate firefighters and control staffon duty to answer such emergency calls.There should also be continued assessmentagainst rigorous performance standards forreceipt and mobilisation of calls by emergencyfire controls.To this end, fire and rescue services mustensure that they are genuinely improving onthe standards that existed before the changesin the legislation, the abolition of nationalstandards and the introduction of IRMP.Any such process must obviously includethe full involvement of professional firefightersand their representatives – the FireBrigades Union.These principles must underpin nationalstandards. In the absence of such standards inall governments across the UK, these principlesshould be incorporated into the IRMPs ofthe individual fire and rescue services.Firefighters will not accept the argumentthat response times are irrelevant. Built intoNational standardsin WalesOn 21 March 2006, the Welsh Assemblygovernment informed the three Welsh fireand rescue services of the adoption of anew attendance time standard, entitled“Service delivery standard to fires in thehome”. The circular stated:“The Service Standard for attendanceto fires in the home has been developedbased upon a comprehensive modelwhich considers population (numbers ofpeople), population density (dealing withremoteness) and population type (riskof fire).“This Service Standard aims to provide80% of Welsh homes with an attendanceto a fire in the home within 10 minutes.The Service Standard also recognises thatas a result of local population numbers,population density and populationtypes some areas will attract a 5-minuteattendance to a fire in the home ...”While the FBU might seek to improveon the service standard in Wales, it issignificant that the Welsh Assemblygovernment agreed in principle witha national standard covering all threeservices in Wales. If such an approachis possible in Wales, it must be possibleacross the whole of the UK.a firefighter’s DNA is the desire to interveneswiftly – to make that difference as to whethersomeone lives or dies, whether they aretemporarily overcome with smoke or maimedfor life, or whether someone loses their homeand their prized possessions.To be told that rapid response to firesand other emergencies somehow doesn’tmatter, or is “offset” by other fire preventionmeasures, simply won’t wash with firefighters.Response times matter because people andtheir lives matter. That’s our creed.> > The report is on the FBU websitewww.fbu.org.ukJune 2010 FireFighter 15

PENSIONSWho is goingto defendfire servicepensions?Sean Starbuck,FBU nationalofficer, explainsthe latestproposals onpensionsThe Fire Brigades Union has a proven history ofdefending the pension rights of its members. It hasachieved some notable successes in recent yearsincluding defending ill-health provision for members,campaigning successfully for a fairer commutationfactor implementation date and gaining accessto a pension scheme for firefighters working the retainedduty system (RDS).Common to each of these successes is that other organisationshave “talked the talk” but that the FBU has “walkedthe walk” – alone. Recent rumblings around public sectorpensions mean that we may be tested again.At the Firefighters Pension Committee (FPC) on 15March this year, the Department for Communities andLocal Government (CLG) presented three papers whichspelt out the changes it wanted to make to the 1992Firefighters Pension Scheme (FPS) and, to a smaller extent,to the 2006 New Firefighters Pension Scheme (NFPS).These papers – pensionable pay, options for the future, capand share – were introduced as possibilities for committeemembers to discuss and give views on.Pensionable payThe FBU had been raising for a considerable time issuesaround the inconsistent way that fire and rescue authoritiesdecide what element of pay is pensionable. We welcomeda previous consultative paper (FSPC 11/2009) designed toestablish how any anomalies could be dealt with in the future.However, the pensionable pay paper proposed changes thatraised huge concerns and were both unnecessary and inappropriateat this forum. They are issues contained in the GreyBook and should be dealt with at the National Joint Council.After a strong representation from the FBU this paper waswithdrawn and CLG indicated that further work would becarried out before it was represented in the future.Options for the futureThe options for the future paper can only be described as akite-flying exercise by CLG. The FBU recognised this tacticand immediately challenged CLG to provide more detailson the options before any real discussion could take place.CLG resisted this challenge initially but eventually agreedthat they would provide more information to the next FPC.The FBU has subsequently written to CLG to emphasisethe requirement for information and informed CLG thatthe union intends, if necessary, to use an actuary to challengeits assumptions.Unfortunately one organisation which claims to representmanagers in the fire service did not recognise the gamethat CLG was playing and has responded by indicatingwhat changes may be acceptable, therefore prematurelysetting its bottom line expectations. The FBU has madeit clear to CLG that we will only consider options when ithas all the relevant information and it will not be pressuredinto a knee jerk reaction on an issue of this importanceto members.Cap and shareThe final paper – cap and share – outlined CLG’s intention tointroduce a cap and share system to the FPS and the NFPS.Cap and share is a method that is being adopted in anumber of public sector schemes to reduce the risk of pension16 FireFighter June 2010

cost increases to the employers. In brief, if actuarial factorsshow that the cost of the scheme has increased, thenmembers have to share the cost of the increase.Once the employers’ share reaches a cap determinedby the Treasury then members have to meet the entireincreased cost. Members share the cost or bear the cost byincreasing contributions or taking a cut in their benefits.CLG explained that cap and share would be imposedon the firefighters’ pension schemes following theirnext valuation in 2011 and will come into effect around2016. The 2011 valuation would be used to examinehow the schemes have fared since 2007. Changesto assumed rates of inflation, pay increases and lifeexpectancy will be costed and subjected to the cap andshare arrangement.The FBU outlined that there was much more detailrequired on this issue before any decisions could bemade and highlighted that the risk-sharing element ofthe decision would have to be considered in great detail,especially in the 1992 FPS, given that it is a closed scheme.What next?All three of these proposals are clearly linked and theFBU executive council has decided to request moredetailed information before any decision is taken. It isvery important to remind CLG that the whole point ofintroducing the NFPS in 2006 was based upon it beingmore cost effective and necessary to ensure the viabilityof the schemes. It is clear that the projected costs ofintroducing this scheme have not been measured, andfor CLG to suggest that firefighters’ pension schemeshave not been reviewed is totally inaccurate.The executive council and all officials and members ofthe union will receive updates as this situation developsand as more details emerge.The FBU will continue to defend firefighters’ pensionschemes with the same determination and commitmentthat it always has. It would be nice, however, if wedid not have to do it alone and other organisations didsomething other than talk about it.The FBU has made it clear that it willonly consider options when it has all therelevant information and it will not bepressured into a knee jerk reaction onan issue of this importance to membersJune 2010 FireFighter 17

YOUR WELFARE HEALTHFirefighter safety acknowledgedSAFETYAll firefighters know they areputting their lives on the linewhen they do their job. And afterso many tragic deaths in recentyears, firefighters want to knowthat everything is being done to reduce therisks of serious injury and death.One way that this can be done is byreinforcing the health and safety duties fireauthorities and fire boards havetowards the firefighters theyemploy. That is why the FireBrigades Union has negotiateda statement with theHealth and Safety Executive(HSE), the national safetybody, the Chief Fire OfficersAssociation and the chief fireand rescue adviser. Furtherguidance is expected to bepublished this month.Health and safety lawHealth and safety law getsa bad press. But it is one ofthe main reasons why workdeaths have fallen in theUK. The Health and Safetyat Work Act 1974 appliesto all activities of fire andrescue authorities as theemployers of fire and rescueservice staff 1 .Health and safety lawrequires employers toensure the health, safetyand welfare at work of theiremployees. But the duty isnot absolute and is qualifiedby the test of what is“reasonably practicable”.The new HSE statementrecognises thatfirefighters are sent intodangerous situations inorder to save lives when anyone else wouldbe seeking to get away from the danger.It also recognises that “there is oftenan unrealistic public expectation that firefighterswill put themselves at risk even when1 The statement does not currently apply in NorthernIreland. The Health and Safety Executive NorthernIreland told Firefighter that it will be considering this indue course, in consultation with the FBU.Fire employers must protect firefighterssuch risks outweigh any potential benefits tobe gained”.It states that: “Many incidents firefightersface can develop at speed, some can developin unexpected ways – and firefighters may,from time to time, be confronted with situationsoutside their experience.”Good safety managementThe statement sets out what fire serviceemployees should expect of their fire andrescue authorities as employers:Good health and safety managementsystems should: take account of the wider context inwhich they operate, so that the fire andrescue authorities can: deliver an effective and realisticservice; and enable staff to take appropriate careHealth and SafetyExecutiveStriking the balance betweenoperational and health and safetyduties in the Fire and Rescue Service19023.07 Fire2.indd 1 4/3/10 15:49:21for their own, their colleagues’ and thepublic’s health and safety; are based on robust, proportionate, carefullyconsidered and non-bureaucratic riskassessments which: identify significant hazards; set out safe systems of work, includingappropriate control measures, equipment,competencies and training; and are effectively implemented; include arrangements for monitoringhealth and safety performance, includinglearning from incidents and using this informationto improve performance;and include arrangements forconsultation with employeesand their representatives.The primary duties underhealth and safety law are onemployers. HSE inspectors,when inspecting or investigatingan individual fire and rescueauthority, will look at risk assessments,command and control,training, equipment and othersystems.Duties on firefightersThe law also places duties onemployees to take reasonable careof themselves and others and tocooperate with their employer.The HSE statement sums it up likethis: “In essence, this means thatemployees should act sensibly andresponsibly within the commandand control of their employer; theyshould not act recklessly.”The statement reinforces thelegal right of FBU safety representativesto represent our members, tobe consulted on health and safetyissues and to have a key role inimproving standards of health andsafety management.FBU representatives and officialscan use the statement and the forthcomingguidance to ensure systemsare in place to prevent firefighter deathsand injuries.> > The statement is on the HSE’s websiteStriking the balance between operational andhealth and safety duties in the Fire and RescueServicewww.hse.gov.uk/services/fire/duties.pdf18 FireFighter FBU Month FREE 2006 CONFIDENTIAL STRESS & SUPPORT HELPLINE 0800 783 4778

YOUR WELFARE YOU AND THE LAWI was strandedby the volcanoQCan my employer makeme pay back wagesbecause I was strandedand unable to report forduty due to the Icelandicvolcano?AThere is no simple “Yes”or “No” to this question.It depends on your employer’spolicy on dealing withcircumstances that make itdifficult for employees to getto work.The Employment RightsAct 1996 makes it unlawfulfor an employer to makea deduction from thewages of a worker unlessthe worker has agreed inwriting to the deductionbeing made or the deductionsare required by law(for instance, deductionsfor PAYE and nationalinsurance).So if an employerreduces or fails to pay wageswithout the employee’sconsent it may amount toan unlawful deduction fromwages, even if the employeeowes money to the employer. Inother words, employers are notentitled to take the law into theirown hands.But this does not preventan employer from recoveringmoney that has been overpaid –nor from not paying wages thathave not been earned becausean employee has failed to turnup for work – if the employer’spolicy on this is part of theemployment contract.Employees have a duty toreport for work (other thanfor reasons that their contractspecifies they will get paidtime off for, such as sickness ormaternity leave). Employersshould have a policy that setsout how they will deal withcircumstances that prevent ormake it difficult for employeesto get to work. It should covercontractual and statutoryrights and the obligations ofemployees.Such a policy might advisethat failure to report for workwill be classed as unpaid leave ifholiday cannot be taken.Whether employees canbe granted additional time offdepends on their employmentcontracts and the approach thattheir employer chooses to takeas there is no entitlement instatute.TUC general secretaryBrendan Barber called onemployers to be sympatheticto the plight of their employeesand be flexible in their approach–allowing them to extend theirleave, or use leave days from thefollowing year, for instance.Legal BeagleConstructivedismissalSATOSHI KAMBAYASHIAnswers to some frequently asked legalquestions that members put to the FBUQWhat is the differencebetween constructive andunfair dismissal?AWhen a worker resigns inresponse to a significantand fundamental breach of theircontract of employment by theiremployer – such as a demotionor pay cut without consultation –it is called constructive dismissal.Constructive dismissalis therefore distinct fromunfair dismissal, which iswhen an employer dismissesan employee for reasonsthat cannot be justified.Constructive dismissal is,nevertheless, a form ofdismissal.Proving constructivedismissal is one of themost difficult areas ofemployment law. Casesare hard to win becauseemployees have a greatdeal to prove to anemployment tribunal.They cannot simplyresign and claim constructivedismissal because theydisagree with somethingtheir employer has done,or they are unhappy withthe work they are beingasked to do.They must show that:●●the employer committeda fundamental breach ofcontract – a breach of theimplied term of mutual trustand confidence;●●they felt they had no optionbut to leave;●●they did not do anything thatwould suggest they accepted thebreach.If an employee does notresign fairly soon after thebreach of contract happens,this can be interpreted as theirhaving accepted the breach.They must also be able toshow that they followed theACAS code of practice ondisciplinary and grievanceprocedures. If they cannot,then an employment tribunalmay reduce any compensationit awards for constructivedismissal. The code is availableat www.acas.org.ukA claim for constructiveunfair dismissal must be lodgedin the employment tribunalwithin three months less oneday of the last day of employment.It is not possible to havean extension to this timescale.> > The advice published here isnot intended as legal advice onindividual cases. Write in with yourlegal problem to legalbeagle@fbu.org.uk and those of widestrelevance to FBU members in theworkplace will be selected andanswered in future editions. Withthanks to Thompsons solicitors.FBU FREEPHONE LEGAL ADVICE LINE 0808 100 6061June 2010 FireFighter 19

DAY OFF ME AND MY BIKING‘The idea is tohave as biga group aspossible going’TONY SMITHTony Smith is blue watch commanderat Garston in Watford, Hertfordshire,and FBU brigade secretary for thecounty. He is also a keen biker.Tony Smith, Hertfordshire FBU brigadesecretary, joins a motorbike ride to honour USfirefighters killed in the 9/11 attacks on New YorkSeptember 11 next year willmark the tenth anniversary ofterrorist attacks on the WorldTrade Centre in New York. Morethan 1,360 people from over 90countries died after two planes were flowninto the twin towers. The toll included 343firefighters.Next year UK firefighters can join amotorcycle ride from Chicago to New Yorkto commemorate those who lost their livesin the line of duty on 9/11.The invitation comes from the Americanfirefighters’ motorcycle club via Tony Smith,FBU Hertfordshire brigade secretary, bluewatch commander at Garston station inWatford and keen biker. Tony discoveredthe commemorative ride, held every year,when surfing the net. He got in touch withthe organisers and was told he would bewelcome to join in. So in 2007 he flew out toChicago with a couple of colleagues. They allrented motorbikes and got on the road.“It was an amazing experience,” saidTony, who rode the route again last year,staying with Chicago firefighters beforesetting off for the 1,000-mile ride to NewYork. “The sense of camaraderie is fantastic.There were firefighters, retired firefightersand also quite a few policemen on the run.The atmosphere is incredible”.SolidarityTony was motivated to join the ride by hisadmiration for the firefighters who took partin the twin towers rescue, a desire to payhis respects to those who died and to showsolidarity with survivors. “It was a terribleloss. So many firefighters lost colleagues,”said Tony.Firefighters on the 1,000-mile ride from Chicago to New York20 FireFighter June 2010

“Such an attack could have happened inLondon as it did in New York. I didn’t justwant to go to ground zero as a tourist, but tomeet up with firefighters who lived throughthe event, hear their stories and offer supportby listening to what they went through. Forme, it’s all about being there.”There are also quite a few union activistsfrom the firefighters’ union IAFFon the ride – so it provides a chance tonetwork and swap experiences. “As soonas I found the website, I knew I wanted togo on the memorial ride. It seemed a goodway of paying my respects and meeting upwith firefighters. The response we got wasvery welcoming.”The experience certainly didn’t disappoint.“It’s a trip of a lifetime,” said Tony, whoplans to make it for the third time next year.“It’s about a thousand miles from Chicagoto New York and we pick up people fromMichigan and Wisconsin along the way. Asit is early fall (autumn), and the weather isusually good, it’s a spectacular ride and agood chance to network and swap experiencesas well as honouring those who died.”On the way to New York, the biking firefightersstop off at Shanksville, Pennsylvaniato pay respects to the crew and passengersfrom United Airlines Flight 93. All 40 died.But their bravery and quick thinking savedmany others. As hijackers took control of theplane, passengers learned of the attack onthe twin towers – mobiles work in mid-air.The hijackers’ plan to crash the plane intoanother iconic building was thwarted.Block partiesOn the memorial ride, the bikers enterNew York with a full police escort throughBrooklyn, followed by food and drink at ablock party. Then it’s on to the big paradefacing ground zero, where firefightersand police, citizens and tourists pay theirrespects to those who died while trying tosave others. Afterwards, there are sightsto see, block parties to go to, motorcycledealers to visit – and, of course, firefighters’memories of 9/11 to hear.But there is more commemoration tocome in the ride’s packed schedule. Thenext day the riders traditionally take part inthe “Elvis” run with more than 1,400 otherfirefighting bikers. A police-escorted rideis held annually to honour the memory offirefighter and biking legend Mike “Elvis”Delane of the Newark fire department, whodied in the line of duty in 1994.Tony’s trips normally last 10 days,Chicago firefighters have offered free accommodation– but the costs of flights, food,petrol and sustenance and beer money canadd up to around £2,000. If you’re a firefighterwho loves motorbikes and wants topay respects to fallen US colleagues, it couldMemorial at the Fire Department of New York’s“Ten House” which lost six firefighters and wasseriously damaged on September 11, 2001Taking part in the annual “Elvis” parade inNewark, New Jersey, to honour the memory offirefighter and biker Mike “Elvis” Delane who diedin the line of duty in 1994With US firefighters at a block party after lastyear’s runjust be the trip of a lifetime. And if Tony’sexperience is anything to go by, you couldwant to make it more than once.Tony is also exploring the possibility ofgetting a motorcycle club for UK firefightersoff the ground, if there is enough interest. Itcould, he said, even take the form of a UKchapter of the AFF-MC, though it’s veryearly days.Anyone interested in joining the ridenext year should contact Tony through thewebsite below. If you really want to go butdon’t have a motorcycle licence, you couldalways hire a support vehicle to ride theroute. Or do the trip by sports bike.“The idea is to have as big a group aspossible going,” said Tony, who has alreadygot a firm “Yes” from six colleagues. So ifyou’re interested, get saving – and get intouch as soon as possible.> > More information:fbu.herts@ntlworld.comwww.aff-mc.comwww.iafflocal2.orgJune 2010 FireFighter 21

PUZZLESQuick Crossword1 2 3 4 5 6 7 89 101112 1314 1516 171821 22 2324 2526 27ACROSS1 Fellow sailor (8)5 Size up; take stock (6)9 The in-crowd (8)10 Italian wine produced inPiedmont (6)12 Facial expression betrayingdispleasure (5)13 Take from one place toanother (9)14 Inferring a rule from specificcases (12)18 The only sort of drink to imbibewhen on duty (3-9)21 Uncovered – not a good idea torun a car thus (9)23 Without company (5)24 Essential bit of canteen kit (6)25 Without being asked (8)26 Nappy, across the pond (6)27 Pseudonyms (3-5)Solution to May 2010crosswordWinner of theApril 2010 quizHannah Poole of KentAnswers toMay 2010 quiz1. A – Iceland2. C – East3. B – Indonesia4. C – Vesuvius19 20DOWN1 Start out (3,3)2 The freezy part of the fridge (3-3)3 John, secretary of FBUparliamentary group (9)4 People who attend playsetc (7-5)6 Strike-breakers, commonly (5)7 To be so with the truth is to telllies (8)8 Lack (8)11 Act of not paying the InlandRevenue what you ought (3,9)15 Not the real thing (9)16 Made offensive or disparagingremark (8)17 Arabic word for (Palestinian)uprising (8)19 One registered abroad for thesake of 11 (3-3)20 Anyone for this? (6)22 Took without permission;scarf-like garment (5)5. A – sulphur dioxideWin a Flymo Glide Master 3801. What nickname was givento the 1900 UK election onaccount of the Boer War?a. the khaki electionb. the jubilee electionc. the Madagascar electiond. the inebriated election12. In what election didBritain last experience ahung parliament?a. 1929b. 1964c. 1974d. 19403. Universal male suffragewas introduced prior towhich election?a. 1832b. 1868c. 1918d. 19144. In 2005, Tony Blair wasthe only Labour leader tohave done what?a. win three electionsb. win three consecutiveelectionsPrize quizHOW T O E N T E Rc. become a father for thefourth timed. be removed fromgovernment5. In the 2010 election voterswere angered by which ofthe following?a. being locked into pollingstationsb. being locked out of pollingstationsc. not being given the correctballot papersd. being made to wait toolong for the election resultTo win a Flymo Glide Master 380 lawnmower please send youranswers to the Prize Quiz by 30 June 2010 on a postcard to:Prize Competition (June 2010), FBU Head Office, Bradley House,68 Coombe Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT2 7AE.Include your name, address and membership number.The winner will be selected at random from all correct entries.GETTY54GETTY GETTY22 FireFighter June 2010

GOSSIP… brings you the news they don’t want you to hearHe didn’t like their tone …“I object to being bullied on myown quarterdeck by a woman,”wrote London’s chief fire officer.“Admittedly the women’s branchis behind that of the men’s – the men’s ismore important, and we know better how todeal with our own sex.” All right, I’ll levelwith you – that’s not the present chief fireofficer of London. It’s Sir Aylmer Firebrace(honestly, that was his name) writing in 1938to the Home Office after what seems to havebeen a difficult meeting with the Women’sVoluntary Service.Sir Aylmer, like many fire chiefs of thetime, came into the fire service from thenavy, and still sounded remarkably likean upper class naval officer. “The tone ofthe criticism I have so far received fromthem has left much to be desired,” hewrote grumpily.His letter has lain in a file in the Londonfire brigade museum in Southwark for 70years and came to light in the course of theresearch for a book commissioned by theFBU called Firefighters and the Blitz. The bookwill be out on 7 September, the seventiethanniversary of the start of the Blitz in 1940.Time to act on equalityNot every politician will welcome thenew Con-Dem partnership ingovernment. Lib-Dem LynnFeatherstone MP is now responsiblefor equality at the Home Office. Back in2008, Featherstone thanked Londonfirefighters for turning out when her boilerlooked like it might explode. Quite right tocall, said the FBU at the time.Not so Tory Brian Coleman. He attackedFeatherstone, describing her as “dizzy” andan “airhead” and saying she should havecalled a plumber. Mindful of the publicpurse, he demanded she pay for the call out.Featherstone promised to complain tothe London fire commissioner: “Firstly, onthe issue of how he will deal with a chairof the authority who is happy to send out amessage which is completely contradictoryto the ethic and central message of the fireservice. Secondly, in a service in whichthere is a strong shift to move away fromany discrimination or sexism – to ask whataction he will take over having a chair whothinks it is OK to denigrate women in theway Brian Coleman did. Those who knowMr Coleman say this is typical.”The Cat reminds Featherstone – now isthe time for action on equality.Now for some cuts: David Cameron tries theequipment in CarlisleJoined up thinkingDavid Cameron spent some of thenight before the general electionvisiting Carlisle fire station, whichhelped the Conservatives to anarrow 853-vote victory in the city, the firstTory win there since 1964. Naturally, heclaimed he would try to protect fire servicesfrom the cuts. That’s what you do when youvisit fire stations. But the fire service andCarlisle’s fire station do not merit a singlemention on the website of the newConservative Carlisle MP John Stevenson,which does talk about several policy areas –police, education and all the other thingsyou would expect. Station Cat is tempted tothe uncharitable thought that the only reasonthe fire station was chosen for a visit was thatthat was where Mr Cameron would find peoplestill awake in the small hours.World classPoliticians of all persuasions loveto jump on the fire servicebandwagon – when it suits them– or when an election is looming.Gordon Brown said: “It gives me enormouspride that Britain has the best fire service inSTEFAN ROUSSEAU/PA PHOTOSthe world, putting their lives on the line forothers every day,” he said two years ago at theFire Service Charity’s 2008 Spirit of Fireawards. The best fire service in the world it maybe; but not much longer, if it keeps getting cut.So it’s goodbye from himThe Cat bids farewell to former fireminister Shahid Malik, who lost hisseat at the election.Malik said at the electioncount: “Yes I lost but I certainly don’t feellike a loser. I feel like a winner. It’s been aprivilege to serve for the last five years andalthough it’s been the hardest thing I’ve doneI wouldn’t change a thing – well maybe oneor two.” Does he mean FiReControl? Too latenow for regrets.Pay cut cabinet?Spare a thought for the newcabinet, whose ministers votedthemselves a 5% pay cut. Still,even junior ministers get£89,000, on top of nearly £65,000 for beingan MP. No doubt the pain is softened bynews that four-fifths of the cabinet (18 out of23) are millionaires anyway. Together theyare “worth” about £50m, when propertyvalues, business interests and shareholdingsare taken into account.When is a single not a single?Being a cheapskate when he’s payinghis own fare, Station Cat asked for asecond class sleeper to Glasgow. Hewas told there weren’t any. He had topay extra for a cabin to himself.But at the station, the attendant showedhim into a sharing cabin, and said he’dhave it to himself. The problem, apparently,is that ScotRail’s computer thinks there aremore single cabins than there are, and fewerdouble ones.And we’re supposed to believe privatisationmakes things more efficient! If onlythe railways were still publicly owned,the Daily Mail would have exposed thisabsurdity ages ago.**if you have any snippets you think StationCat should get his sharp claws into email:stationcat@fbu.org.ukJune 2010 FireFighter 23

25‐year badgesNicky Evans (r), Northantsheadquarters, Moulton, receivesher 25-year badge from nationalofficer David GreenPeter Curtis (l), Millwall, London,receives his 25-year badge fromWAC secretary Sally HarperDavid Evans (r),Brackley,Northants, receives his 25-yearbadge from national officer DavidGreenAdrian Crook (r) receives his25-year badge from region 13executive council member TamMcFarlaneGeorge McDonnell (r), Northantsheadquarters, Moulton, receiveshis 25-year badge from nationalofficer David GreenSteve Isaacs (l), Springbourne,Dorset, receives his 25-yearbadge from brigade secretaryKaren AdamsMick Hawes (r), Northantsheadquarters, Moulton, receiveshis 25-year badge from nationalofficer David GreenRobert McLeganhan (l)Cowcaddens, Glasgow, receiveshis 25-year badge from healthand safety rep Stewart KinnonTerry Blisset (r), Northants OpsSupport, receives his 25-yearbadge from national officer DavidGreenFBU REGIONAL OFFICES> Region 1 Scotland52 St Enoch Square, Glasgow,Scotland g1 4aa0141 221 230901rs@fbu.org.uk> Region 2 Northern Ireland14 Bachelors Walk, Lisburn,Co Antrim, bt28 1xj02892 66462202rs@fbu.org> Region 3 Cleveland, Durham,Northumberland, Tyne and Wear1 Carlton Court, 5th Avenue, Team Valley,Gateshead, ne11 0az0191 487 414203rs@fbu.org.uk> Region 4 Yorkshire and Humberside9 Marsh Street, Rothwell,Leeds, ls26 0ag0113 288 700004rs@fbu.org.uk> Region 5 Greater Manchester, Lancashire,Isle of Man, Cumbria, Merseyside, CheshireThe Lighthouse, Lower Mersey St,Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, ch65 2al0151 357 440005rs@fbu.org.uk> Region 6 Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire,Lincolnshire, Leicestershire,NorthamptonshireLittle Dennis Street South (above Dawsons)Nottingham NG2 4EU0115 947 204206gen@fbu.org.uk> Region 7 West Midlands, Staffordshire,Warwickshire, Hereford and Worcester, Salop195/7 Halesowen Rd, Old Hill,West Midlands, b64 6he01384 41363307rs@fbu.org.uk> Region 8 Mid and West Wales, NorthWales, South Wales4 Ffordd yr Hen Gae, Pencoed,Bridgend, cf35 5lj01656 86791008rs@fbu.org.uk> Region 9 Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire,Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk28 Atlantic Square, Station Road,Witham, Essex, cm8 2tl01376 52152109rs@fbu.org.uk> Region 10 LondonJohn Horner Mews, Frome Street,Islington, London, n1 8pb020 7359 3638london@fbu.org.uk> Region 11 Kent, Surrey, SussexUnit 11, Hunns Mere Way,Woodingdean, Brighton, BN2 6AH01273 30976211rs@fbu.org.uk> Region 12 Buckinghamshire, Berkshire,Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Isle of WightFBU Regional Office, The Merlin Centre,Unit L, Gatehouse Close, Aylesbury HP19 8DP01296 48229712rs@fbu.org.uk> Region 13 Cornwall, Devon and Somerset,Avon, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Dorset158 Muller Road, Horfield,Bristol, bs7 9re0117 935 513213rs@fbu.org.ukChange of addressor next of kinAdvise your Brigade MembershipSecretary of any change of address andHead Office of changes to next of kin ornominations for benefits.(l to r) Andy Davis, Chris Stockley and Pat Wynn,green watch Springbourne, Dorset, receive their25-year badges from brigade secretary KarenAdams and watch manager Terry BrokenshireSian Griffiths (l), Millwall, London, receives her25-year badge from WAC secretary Sally Harper aswhite watch Millwall look onFBU FREEPHONELEGAL ADVICE LINE0808 100 6061The line provides advice forpersonal injury, family law, wills,conveyancing, personal financeand consumer issues.For disciplinary and employmentrelatedqueries contact your localFBU representative.