National Retained Committee

Related information:

18 Apr 08	Full Employment Tribunal Judgment
28 Mar 08	Firefighter Magazine: RDS Equality - Union secures final legal victory....more
20 Mar 08	All Members Circular: Success on Retained firefighters’ pensions after an eight-year legal battle....more
11 Mar 08	e-bulletin: FBU in major legal victory for RDS.....more
11 Mar 08	Press Release: Retained firefighters and part-time workers: FBU wins eight-year legal battle for pensions and for end to discrimination.....more
22 Nov 07	e-bulletin: Retained Pensions legal Battle continues......more
09 Nov 07	Press Release: Retained firefighters: FBU ’s seven-year battle for pensions and end of discrimination goes back to employment tribunal......more
09 Oct 07	All Members Circular: Firefighter Special - The RFU and the NJC.....more

Today (11 March 2008) the Employment Tribunal announced its decision in respect of the long running pensions case brought by the Fire Brigades Union on behalf of its Retained Duty System members.

The implications of this victory will impact widely on the service we serve in.  All current aspects of less favourable treatment will be open to challenge, and challenging this on behalf of RDS firefighters will be the FBU, the only trade union that represents all sections of the fire and rescue services regardless of the duty systems worked.

The case was brought under the prevention of less favourable treatment of part time workers regulations that became law in the UK on 1 July 2000. Prior to this legislation, there had been no legal vehicle available to pursue such a case.

The case has taken several years to see through to this historic result and is due in no small part to the dedication and determination of a significant number of officials, representatives, activists, members and Thompsons, our solicitors.

Thanks must go out in particular to Richard Arthur our solicitor for the case at Thompsons and to our barristers, Robin Allen & Martin Seaward whose steadfast and resolute belief in our case has steered it to this great conclusion.

We must also pay tribute to our members from Berkshire and Kent who gave evidence in support of our claim, the delivery of their evidence and their performance under very high pressure cross examination was inspirational to those of our delegation who witnessed the proceedings.

On behalf of all FBU RDS members, the National Retained Committee wish to put on record it’s heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all those involved in this case.

This historic result is probably one of our unions finest achievements of justice on behalf of its RDS members who have for too long been discriminated upon primarily by virtue of the duty system they work.

What do we do?

The National Retained Committee advises the Executive Council on matters affecting the conditions of Employment of retained members of the Union and the related negotiations. We advise the Executive Council on the organisation and recruitment of retained members into the Union.

The NRC comprises one retained member from each Region, a Chair and a Secretary. The member from each Region is elected by the retained members in the Region. The National Chair and Secretary are elected by retained members. Subject to the approval of the Executive Council, the NRC can elect members to serve in an advisory capacity to the Executive Council upon the national negotiating bodies concerned with retained conditions of employment.

In conjunction with the Executive Council the National Retained Committee organises an annual general meeting of representatives of retained members

Off the run

A campaign to highlight the enormous problem of the recruitment and retention of firefighters on the retained duty system.

“Off the Run” is a document in answer to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister’s review of the retained service produced by the Retained Review Team.

The review was heavily influenced by the RFU and detrimental to the service, health and safety, and pay and conditions and does not address the problem of funding the retained Service.

Read “Off the Run”

Seven RDS firefighters reinstated thanks to FBU representation

Seven sacked firefighters at West Midlands’ only retained fire station have been reinstated following representation by the FBU. The firefighters at Sedgley fire station faced charges of gross misconduct.

Senior managers had tried to close Sedgley fire station a number of years ago, but shelved plans after the FBU conducted a major public campaign. Had the decision to sack the firefighters been upheld then the fire station would have closed.

The main and only charge against the RDS firefighters was that they were 'complicit' in operating a system for turn outs -  the so-called washer system, which the brigade alleged delayed the appliance in turning out.

Local FBU officials challenged the brigade’s use of the word 'complicit' as none of the RDS firefighters were authors of the system and didn't know anything different from the time of joining. And then they succeeded in showing that the system did not delay the appliance at all.

One who was reinstated was reduced in role and further FBU member at Sedgley who remains dismissed will receive the full support of the FBU legal services.

The Sedgley fire crew were represented by West Midlands brigade membership secretary Chris Downes, regional officials for Region 7 Tony Nutting and Tony Larose, Executive Council member for Region 7 Dave Whatton. Pete Preston and Harry Cotter from the National Retained Committee and Retained Executive Council member Tam Mitchell also helped with advice.

Says Dave Whatton:

“Sedgley may be the only retained fire station in the West Midlands. But retained firefighters in Sedgley are entitled to the same protection and access to the same resources of the Fire Brigades Union as firefighters in any other fire station in the brigade.

“As a Union we represent all uniformed staff in the UK fire service and we are committed to supporting and defending all firefighters regardless of duty system.”