Fire And Rescue

Report from Kim Rowswell

September 09

Essex Fire & Rescue Service are constantly trying to improve the way they work and in today’s economic climate they want to make financial savings as well as improvements. This is resulting in a number of reviews of working practice and staffing requirements. In some cases the reviews identify that the roles being done need to change. These changes obviously have an impact on some of our members as well as non members. Job Descriptions are being changed and evaluated. All this means more involvement for me as a Unison Steward.

This may be a time to look at whether an Equal Pay Review as per the Green Book Conditions has been carried out?

Policies also need to be updated and the Fire Service is currently undergoing a review of its Maternity Policy. In order to do this focus groups have been taking place and Unison have been involved in the focus groups.

We currently have three Unison Health & Safety Reps, 1 being relatively new and keen to get involved. Our Unison H&S Reps are actively involved in all aspects of the H&S role.

Kim Rowswell
Steward, Fire & Rescue Service

22nd May 2009

On 16th April 2009 I attended a Fire Control Consultative Meeting

Out of the meeting the ‘Terms of Reference and Principles of Engagement’ were agreed. Extract below:

In the early stages the Group will offer the opportunity for informal discussion of matters relating to the Project, leading towards more formal consultation at the appropriate time in the future.

The Group has been formed as a sub group of the Regional Project Board and will meet approximately every two months. It will take actions forward and report back to the RPB and the RJCC, both of which ultimately report to the RMB.

Giving updates to Control Staff where possible was discussed and a ‘Briefing Note from the Regional Project Board’ has since been issued.

For Unison it is important that we take an active and constructive part in discussion at an early stage to facilitate reaching agreement in the constituent authorities of the Region within an appropriate timescale.

As a New Unison Steward I was originally not sure why Unison would get involved when the Control Staff work under different conditions to Unison employees but after learning more about what is happening I realised there are at least two reasons for Unison involvement:

1. The integration of Control Staff into other areas of the Fire Service means they could be doing a similar role to a Unison member of Support Staff. Two people doing similar roles on different conditions and different pay. This would also mean not as many Support Staff roles available because they are being filled by Control Staff.

2. Once Regional Control is set up where new staff are recruited, they will be employed under Green Book Conditions this could possibly be x amount on new Unison Members.

Mick Mahoney (Branch Secretary) has been discussing the proposed move to the new Fire and Rescue Service headquarters building in Kelvedon. Although not planned to take place for a few years there are concerns as to whether low paid, part-time women workers will be able to go to the new building.

Fire and Rescue Stewards

Kim Rowswell - 01277 222531 - mailto:unisonrep2@essex-fire.gov.uk
Based at Essex Fire & Rescue
Rayleigh Road
Hutton
Brentwood

Mark Ludlow - 07970 585894 - mailto:UnisonRepMarkLudlow@essex-fire.gov.uk or mailto:ludlowmark@hotmail.com
Based at Headquarters
Kelvedon Park
Rivenhall
Witham
Essex CM8 3HB

Aiden O'Neill - 01206 501923 - mailto:aidan.oneill1@ntlworld.com
Essex Fire & Rescue
Lexden
Colchester
Essex CO3 9AA

Fire and Rescue Health and Safety Reps

Jack Bayford - 01277 222531 x2321 - mailto:Unisonrep4@essex-fire.gov.uk
Based at Essex Fire & Rescue
Rayleigh Road
Hutton
Brentwood

Stephen Stone - mailto:stone933@btinternet.com
Essex Fire and Rescue
Workshop, London Road
Lexden
Colchester
Essex CO3 9AA

UNISON Contact

Caz Lankester - 01376 576202 - mailto:caz.lankester@essex-fire.gov.uk
Based at Headquarters
Kelvedon Park
Rivenhall
Witham
Essex CM8 3HB