All different all equal (ADAE)

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) have been leaders in the struggle for equality and fair treatment for all. The ADAE concept, unique within the trade union movement, has at its very core a commitment to oppose, challenge and eradicate all forms of discrimination within the workplace. Equality is embedded into every union activity.

The principles of the policy are to uphold fairness at work for all and to ensure inappropriate behaviour is not welcome amongst our membership. By doing this, it provides security to those with protected characteristics in Fire and Rescue Services.

Whilst Conference can recognise that the implementation of this policy was ahead of its time and highly commended, in reality it is not fully abided by, carried out successfully or enforced in a number of cases.

Conference instructs the Executive Council to fully review the ADAE policy bolstered and enforced including thorough consultation with the B&EMM, NWC and LGBT Sections of the FBU. In particular, we need the equality sections to be more integrated into the process, including introducing a mandate to notify the relevant secretary of a section when one of their Members is the complainant in an ADAE investigation so appropriate support can be provided by the section.