To: All Members

Southern Region

12th May 2004

Dear Brother/Sister

You will now be aware that Annual Conference has been suspended until June due to the employers actions regarding the June 2003 Pay and Conditions Agreement.

Despite repeated requests for the employers to abide by the agreement on pay they have failed to do so. Yesterday we received a response from the employers assistant secretary, Phil White, following our request that agreement be reached by the 11th May.

In his response on behalf of the employers Mr White states in his final paragraph:

“I shall be in touch very soon to make arrangements for further discussions”

Clearly the employers believe there are further discussions to be had at some point in time and they failed to make a positive response by our Conference as requested.

The passing of an emergency resolution, in the name of the Executive Council, has resulted in not only the suspension of conference but also the following positions:

• The Union has withdrawn from the implementation of the June 2003 agreement

• There is no agreement in place defining the role of the Fire Service and the role of Firefighters and Emergency Control Staff

• There exists with immediate effect no agreement on revisions to the Grey Book and therefore the implementation of IPDS pay structure and roles and responsibilities.

• There is now no agreement on additional responsibility allowances

• There is no agreement on a revised Disputes Procedure the procedure in place stands.

• There exists no agreement on any introduction on changes to the duty systems currently worked.

• The policy on members not undertaking pre-arranged overtime is reaffirmed.

• The Unions policy on members not undertaking wholetime/retained duties is reaffirmed.

In addition to the above, and for the avoidance of any doubt, should the Government now attempt to impose a settlement on us the Executive Council will implement a ballot for industrial action.

By their continued delay in delivering your pay increase as agreed, and their additional erosions of our conditions despite the reluctant acceptance and goodwill of members, the employers have demonstrated contempt for all firefighters and control staff.

We cannot accept any further delay by the employers and we have no option other than to withdraw from the implementation of the June 2003 agreement and any alterations to the systems of work and conditions of service proposed as a result of that agreement obviously fall.

The Regional Committee will meet on Tuesday and the Executive Council will be meeting on Wednesday and Thursday of next week. In addition the regional strategy sub committee will meet to assist in keeping members up to date with all information and co-ordinate our response.

Should the employers agree to abide by the June 2003 agreement and pay all members their long overdue pay increase then the matter of the agreement and the outcomes of it will be addressed when agreed by members.

I have attached a copy of the EC resolution as passed for your information.

The business of Annual Conference will be continued in June from the point where conference was adjourned yesterday.

The situation we are now in lies firmly at the door of the employers.

The arrogance and the determination of some within the employers group to force their will upon us all can and will be resisted. They have treated firefighters and control staff with contempt for long enough, they have abused the goodwill of our members for long enough, and they have withheld your pay for long enough.

Enough is enough.

There be no ‘modernisation’ in the fire service until that modernisation programme is agreed by both sides and our agreed pay adjustment is delivered. I have conveyed that position to your brigade officials today.

Dean Mills
Executive Council Member