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format| The Retained Firefighters Union have previously
claimed to have up to 10,000 members. This would be an impressive
number were it audited and proven beyond doubt. But it never has
been. The minutes from their 1998 AGM highlights some interesting facts about an organisation that will never strike to stop its members being made redundant and will stand by as the Stations on which they serve are closed, whilst criticising the FBU for defending such closures by all means. Their financial report to the 1998 AGM shows that of their total income for the entire year 24.37% went to one person, their outgoing General Secretary, in wages, pension contributions, and vehicle provision. As a proportion of their income this is a huge amount. Almost a quarter of all fees paid by RFU members in that year went to one person! Those accounts also showed that the organisation were in the red by over £16,000. So they have money to dole out to their General Secretary but not to pay their bills! But a lack of funds to properly represent members aside what do they stand for? Lets have a look at some of their policies, beliefs, and statements:
The belief that the grey book contains out of date conditions is somewhat surprising. The grey book contains conditions of service on responsibility payments, duty systems, leave and holiday entitlement, compensation of loss of wages for retained members, scales of payments for injury, disputes procedures, fairness at work, cancer screening etc. It is therefore surprising that the RFU would see all these as out of date and not valuable for Part Time Firefighters. What sort of organisation would really want to do away with these rights? Having taken ¼ of all income from payments by members an RFU General Secretary may be able to afford private payment for things such as cancer screening and may be able to ignore repayment of lost wages, unfortunately many part time Firefighters cannot afford this luxury. That’s why the FBU believe the Grey Book has a place in today’s fire service and why we are fighting for higher payments for all members of the fire service. There have been some very odd things said by the RFU in the past but surely nothing can be so perverse as taking payments from members and then refusing to do anything to secure a higher wage for them. To criticise the FBU for trying to gain an annual retaining fee of £7,500 surely shows the RFU for what it is. A toothless, voiceless group who do not understand the principals of a trade union nor the basic rights of a person to be recognised as more than a slave. To lose the right to withdraw our labour or to take action to protect our rights and improve our lives makes us no more than slaves. The FBU do not believe we should be treated as such and are amazed the RFU believe in the 21st century that this is acceptable. What have the RFU EVER won for part times Firefighters? They are losers. They want to lose the right to stop stations being closed. They want to lose the fight for fair pay. They want to lose the grey book and the rights and protection it affords you! There are at present 12,028 part time Firefighters in England and Wales. If the RFU claim to represent part time Firefighters why are they not arguing for higher pay to attract more applicants to fill the 2,912 vacancies? Why are they not pushing for higher turn out fees and a pay rate identical to that of a full time firefighter? Is it because they have no voice, or is it because they simply wish to continue to divide full time and part time Firefighters? There are also 33,376 full time Firefighters at present in England and Wales. Yet the RFU claim that part time Firefighters represent 60% of the fire service. Without a degree in mathematics it seems that these figures don’t add up! The FBU aren’t interested in games like this we simply want to represent all Firefighters and ensure they are all paid fairly and equally along with control staff. It’s a pity the RFU believe otherwise. The RFU also criticized the FBU for passing resolutions at our 2002 conference in May. They criticized for example the passing of a resolution on the Ilisu Dam in Turkey. The resolution stated that the FBU condemned the political, environmental, human rights, and archaeological damage which this would cause. How can any organisation condemn the passing of a resolution calling for protection of the environment, human rights, and protection of archaeological sites? The RFU also criticized the passing of a resolution on a Bill Of Rights which in fact resulted from a desire to see peace in Northern Ireland. How on earth can this be condemned by the RFU? A resolution on ensuring Asylum Seekers are treated properly was also condemned. This sounds like the ranting of the far right parties we have seen in Europe and in some parts of the UK. They also criticized openly the passing of a resolution supporting War on Want. War on Want are trying to stop children as young as 5 working in sweat shops making things like training shoes for big companies for less than 60p a day. Trainers which are sold for over £100:00 a pair! Perhaps it was simply that part of the resolution called for a fair and just wage. We have already seen they disagree with that. Opposing the protection of children from slave labour in the third world is an absolute disgrace and the RFU should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. It may be co-incidence but all of these resolutions were numbered in a row. You have to wonder why the RFU selected these ones. How can they condemn international support when we as a union did so much to help our colleagues in New York after September 11th? Why was this not mentioned? Come to think of it why were resolutions passed among other things on:
not mentioned by the RFU. Because they don’t have an understanding or view on them; or because they selected a few resolution to make a political point? A political point at the expense of the environment, peace in Northern Ireland, protection of archaeological sites and the exploitation of children. So much for a group which in their newsletters claim they stand for fairness for all. Is that fairness for all except children, members in Northern Ireland and those seeking fair pay then? The FBU represent all members on all issues. The RFU are good at condemning but what are they good at doing? Gaining parity of pay for part time Firefighters? No. They have never won anything like it. Running an accident and injury fund for RFU members? NO. They run a tombola and raffle to do this. Indeed they have had to establish it as a charity and even then only paid out two lots of £1,000 last year. Incredible isn’t it. Two payments of £1,000. Two payments from their charity to injured Firefighters amounting to £2,000. The FBU on the other hand paid out £762,141:39. Which Union has the support and finances to help Firefighters at a time of need? What union in fact supports Firefighters. Full time, Part time and Volunteer, Officers and Control Staff? It isn’t the RFU. Preventing any station closure? No. They can’t even run a demonstration as they have no political fund. Pushing for full ridership on appliances to ensure safety of Firefighters? NO. They believe 2 on an appliance is acceptable. The RFU also believe in having no limit to the working age as a part time firefighter. How many of their members wish to keep turning out at 72! On the other hand perhaps they are so desperate to hang on to every member they have to raise the retirement age!? They also failed when taking ill-advised action in the courts previously on retained pensions, and recently admitted in court they could not afford to run a case! They even stated that they had been in court throughout the case. Anyone can sit in a public gallery which is what they did. So much for representing their members in court. If we follow this type of logic they will watch a Dads Army episode on a Sunday evening and then claim they are in the S.A.S. on Monday morning! There is a very real fight about to take place. That fight is for each and every member of the Fire Service. The RFU would seek to deflect us from that fight. We believe the RFU are wrong in their belief that 2 Firefighters in their 60’s is an adequate crew for an appliance. We believe that Firefighters and Control Staff deserve a fair rate of pay and that Part Time Firefighters deserve parity of pay with Full Time Firefighters as well as an annul retaining fee of £7,500. The RFU don’t. The RFU say if Part Time Firefighters want fair pay they should join the FBU. We agree. But there is much more to it than that. The FBU believe in Unity; the RFU in separation. The FBU take on legal cases and win in courts; the RFU can’t even fund cases properly. The FBU speak for all members on Pay and Conditions; the RFU are don’t even have a voice yet take payment on the pretence they do. There is only one organisation which gives support for part time Firefighters, speaks for them at the NJC, and fights for a fair rate of pay for them. That is and always will be the FBU. The RFU are not just also-rans. They were never in the race in the first place. Dean Mills Regional Secretary Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you have any queries or want any more information please contact me on:
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