Deal or no deal?

The Hertfordshire Branch of the Fire Brigades Union have agreed unanimously that Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Authority have breached the terms of our collective agreement reached last July.

That agreement stated:

The Service is committed to achieving the operational establishment and will ensure that staff are allocated in the following order:

These figures were agreed in order to ensure safe rider levels on appliances.

We are aware that establishment figures and confidence levels are currently short of these agreed levels.

We are also aware that Hertfordshire management have now seconded two operationally fit personnel from their watches into the Community Safety Task Force

The Fire Brigades Union took Industrial action last year following a raft of cuts proposed by Hertfordshire County Council. Firefighters agreed to return to work after several periods of strike action.

The Council closed Radlett and Bovingdon Fire Stations and removed the ALP from St Albans but agreed to make no further cuts to the frontline of the fire service.

Letter to ACO John Mills

ACO John Mills
Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service
Old London Road
Hertford
Hertfordshire
SG13 7LD
6th December 2007

Dear John,

Re: Request for Information

We have a question in relation to HFRS Performance Report 2nd Quarter 2007

On page 28 under the heading 2.4.1 Overall Attendance Standards, column 2 of the chart is headed 'Countable Calls'.

Could you please explain what criteria has been applied to bring about the reduction in figures between column 2 and the Total Calls displayed in column 1

Regards,

Tony Smith Brigade Secretary

Letter to CFO Roy Wilsher

CFO Roy Wilsher
Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service
Old London Road
Hertford
Hertfordshire
SG13 7LD
7th December 2007

Dear Sir,

Breaches in Collective Agreement

Following our request of the 23rd November, the Fire Brigades Union is extremely disappointed that you are unable to meet with us until late next week to enter into dialogue with regard to our concerns around the collective agreement.

We were relying on the NJC negotiation procedure to ensure a meaningful dialogue could take place at the earliest opportunity in order to address these serious industrial relations issues.

Nevertheless, we confirm our attendance at a meeting with you, ACO's Mills and ACO Hazeldine at Service Headquarters on Thursday 13th December at 9am.

We look forward to some positive steps toward realising a true partnership dedicated to improving the position of the Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service.

Regards

Tony Smith

Brigade Secretary

CC Andy Dark & Keith Handscomb

Comment from Keith Handscomb

Good to get the website going again. I would like add that the watch level agreement was to ensure safe rider levels whilst ensuring sufficient staffing levels to provide the increasing burden of training necessary to be an operational firefighter, sufficient capacity to perform the other duties now required of firefighters and to still be able to grant the proper allocation of leave entitlements to members.

YIU, Keith.

TELL US YOUR VIEWS: the.team@hertsfbu.org

Hertfordshire Fire Brigades Union
FBU Office, Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service
Old London Road, Hertford, Herts SG13 7LD
Tel: (01992) 507507 - Email: the.team@hertsfbu.org