Pay Agreement

The Executive Council conveyed to the Fire and Rescue Service National Employers by letter on 9th May 2004 the terms under which the FBU would be prepared to reach full and final agreement on the Stage 2 negotiations on the implementation of the June 2003 Pay and Conditions Agreement. This was after many months of detailed negotiations which had concluded with 17 hours of negotiation on the 5th and 7th May. The members of the FBU are frustrated and angry at the National Employers continued refusal to honour the pay increase due on 7 November 2003. Although it was made crystal clear to the Employers that the Union sought a response by Tuesday 11th May 2004 no positive response has been received from the National Employers. Annual Conference condemns the Employers for their lack of urgency which risks derailing the entire rriodernisation process in the UK Fire and Rescue Service. The Union has met all its obligations under the June 2003 Pay and Conditions Agreement whilst at the same time the Employers continue to delay the payment of the agreed pay increases due in November 2003. This Annual Conference instructs the Executive Council to inform the Employers that in the absence of a positive response to our letter of 9th May 2004 the Union immediately withdraws from the implementation of the June 2003 agreement There will be no agreement defining the role of the Fire Service and the role of Firefighters and Emergency Fire Control Staff. There will be no agreement on the Revised Grey Book and therefore the implementation of the IPDS pay structure and roles and responsibilities There will be no agreement on the introduction of alternative duty systems. There will be no agreement on additional responsibility allowances. There will be no agreement on a revised Disputes Procedure. The Union will take the necessary steps to reintroduce bans on members undertaking pre-arranged overtime and wholetime retained duties. Annual Conference, recommends a ballot for industrial action to be decided by Recall Conference in June 2004 following full consultation with the membership To allow this, Conference therefore adjourns and Annual Conference will reconvene to continue business at the time of the Recall Conference If at any time the Government moves to impose a settlement then the Executive Council would implement a ballot for industrial action.