Consultation & Negotiation

This Conference recognises that the NJC Circular 08/07 ʻJoint Protocol for Good Industrial Relations in the Fire and Rescue Serviceʼ is a step forward in attempting to ensure constructive and meaningful consultation and/or negotiations take place between the Employers and Representatives of the Fire Brigades Union. However, Conference is concerned that if an agreement cannot be reached between the two sides at local level, the option of National Joint Council Joint Secretaries dispute resolution assistance needs to be jointly referred. Although the protocol states that any request shall not be unreasonably refused, in practice, some Senior Managers have used this subjective statement as a means not to adhere to the intent of the protocol. In the interest of ensuring that the true spirit of the protocol is maintained and to avoid disputes unnecessarily leading to industrial action, this Conference requires the Executive Council to re-enter negotiations on this issue with the National Joint Council. The objective of these negotiations should be to amend the protocol to ensure that external assistance can be sought by either side if one side believes the other is acting unreasonably.