Conference

[scoobydoo69]

Oh and I forgot. FBU members have won their first pay dispute. The stewards threatened to go on strike if they didn't get a pay increase. They should all be banned next year the cheeky b4st4rds. They get more than the delegates as it is. They made a mockery of the whole thing and showed they were only there for the money.

[scoobydoo69]

Also conference was almost unanimous in refusing to co-respond, as the genius from GMC said, "we're not first responders, we're not co responders, we're not transporters, we're not transformers, we're firefighters, it does what it says on the tin". GENIUS.

I say, the money there preparing to throw at us should be thrown at the Ambulance services up and down Britain. I didn't join this job over 20 years ago to be an ambulance or paramedic. Many of our members don't want it and as for the rest, leave the fire service and join the ambulance service if you want but don't expect us to do it. We don't want it. That is the majority view and anybody who goes against policy will rightfully be expelled from the FBU. It's their choice, go with the majority as we do in a democratic union or face the consequences.

[Webcam]

Paul was taken ill whilst seconding a resolution. Everybody thought it was over indulgence from the noght before and found it quite amusing. Imagine our shock to find out later he was in hospital. Get well soon Paul. If we had a right to reply Angela Smith would have got it in the neck from a few delegates. I spoke to the Lads from SY who moved the affiliation reso and they were livid they couldn't get up and give her what for. The Equality votes got pulled and I for one am glad and I just hope they get their act together or this will be an annual debate. Just like to say that Mick Shaw had a very impressive first Presidential role. He looked like he was made for the job, well done Mick. It was good to see a lot of first time speakers, the future is not so dull for the FBU. My first time too but I had a fantastic time and can't wait for next year.

The equality vote ? Im sorry but why is it that when every delegate who got up to speak, they talked of the union as a whole, yet when some of the sections got up, it was all me me me ??, and the Sections voting rights ammendment was withdrawn, and obviously no body was allowed to talk about it, yet every section speaker on the last day was allowed to take a dig ??.

The co responding issue, proved that there are liars and gutless people at conference, Those who didn't go, should demand that they see the EC Resolution that was defeted !!! Now because of the ignorance of the Met Brigades (Im sorry but it is) We as a union have to go back to our respective brigades, and Kick out Control Staff who mobilise the RFU Co-Responders
So where are the supporters of Control, what are YOU going to do about this, Its now official union policy, oh this also applies to Training Staff !,And Any Fire Crew who knowingly respond to a medical call for help.

[velbert]

Kick out Control Staff who mobilise the RFU Co-Responders

What's this?

[Webcam]

Also conference was almost unanimous in refusing to co-respond, as the genius from GMC said, "we're not first responders, we're not co responders, we're not transporters, we're not transformers, we're firefighters, it does what it says on the tin". GENIUS.

I say, the money there preparing to throw at us should be thrown at the Ambulance services up and down Britain. I didn't join this job over 20 years ago to be an ambulance or paramedic. Many of our members don't want it and as for the rest, leave the fire service and join the ambulance service if you want but don't expect us to do it. We don't want it. That is the majority view and anybody who goes against policy will rightfully be expelled from the FBU. It's their choice, go with the majority as we do in a democratic union or face the consequences.

Scooby, there is only one way to prove once and for all, and thats a postal vote !
Because i bet some would have egg on their faces at the result. There were a few porkies told im sure, There are Shire Brigades who have areas that never ever had the constant cover of an Ambulance, who's Ambulance Service will never be invested in, Who's Paramedics are removed from Ambulances and placed in cars, Who Ambulance Crews are replaced by ill trained Techs (Lesser standard to todays techs). The EC Resolution never said it would allow Co Responding, It was mearly a weapon and a defence to the employers, it also gave protection to Control Members, yet blind ignorance smashed all that, and if the Ammended Co Responding policy is implimented word for word, then the FBU is dead in the water. Because you will have reps who will resigne in protest to demands for Control Room sackings, Control members, Ordinary members in retaliation to all sackings.
Then you have the Officers who have to draw up control measures at stations they cover for Co Responding...............
.......So the ignorance showed at that vote, could in effect cost the FBU its Officers, Control Staff and hundreds if not Thousands of Members, and FBU Officials who refuse to carry out such instructions.

[Webcam]

What's this?

Yes Velbert that is the decision of Conference, that is what was ignored by a majority who voted against the EC policy.

I would like others to come into this discusion to prove me wrong, !.

[velbert]

Can someone post up the ammended co-responding policy, in particular the bit about Control Staff...... from what I've read on here so far the suggestion is that as well as losing my job, I'm about to lose my union too? - Maybe time to put my subs into a savings account against the day of being jobless?

[Pinkpony2]

Paul was taken ill whilst seconding a resolution. Everybody thought it was over indulgence from the noght before and found it quite amusing. Imagine our shock to find out later he was in hospital. Get well soon Paul. If we had a right to reply Angela Smith would have got it in the neck from a few delegates. I spoke to the Lads from SY who moved the affiliation reso and they were livid they couldn't get up and give her what for. The Equality votes got pulled and I for one am glad and I just hope they get their act together or this will be an annual debate. Just like to say that Mick Shaw had a very impressive first Presidential role. He looked like he was made for the job, well done Mick. It was good to see a lot of first time speakers, the future is not so dull for the FBU. My first time too but I had a fantastic time and can't wait for next year.

Crickey. You must be easily pleased if you thought Shaw was impressive.
How many times did he apologise?
How many times has the President been successfully 'challenged' on an issue in the last few years?
It was his 'gaffe' about Paul Embery 'over indulging' when he was ill.
It was his 'gaffe' about the consequencies of not getting through Conference business in time.

its his first go so I am not trying to slag him off but impressive?.............no way!

[Lou1z]

don't think its that serious velbert. the point was that the co-responding issue was won at the high court by the fbu and most people don't see why we should re-visit the issue.
quite what that means i don't know but i'm sure with the high court ruling that control can't be forced into taking co-responding calls. if that's the case, then i should imagine there shouldn't be any problem as long as control are given the right support.
now, if people want to co-respond, then that's up to them but they are in effect, breaking union policy.
quite what people are prepared to do about it is another debate. as pointed out above, there could be expulsions or resignations from the union but not on a grand scale as pointed out above. sure, it will be more severe in some counties than others.
ultimately a line in the sand has to be drawn somewhere and i think it just has.

[scoobydoo69]

OK here goes. To clarify the situation heres the omne that carried from Merseyside;

FIRST/CO-RESPONDING

Conference welcomes the decision of the Liverpool Employment Tribunal of the 1st May 2007, regarding actions taken against the FBU by former members who were subject to internal union discipline for continuing to co-respond in breach of FBU policy. Conference also welcomes the Court of Appeal decision of the 28th February 2007 regarding the contractual position with regard to co-responding.

Conference again re-affirms Conference policy on first/co-responding as agreed by conference in 2001. 2004 and 2005.


The latter part of the EC one which puts the resolution reads;

Conference notes that the employers have approached the FBU seeking negotiations on co-responding. Given the decision of the courts there is now an opportunity for meaningful negotiationsin order to resolve our concerns - and those of the public - regarding co-responder schemes within the UK Fire and Rescue Services.

The EC are therefore instructed to enter into negotiations at the NJC, at the earliest opportunity, in order to address our concerns on this issue (including remuneration). As a consequence the current policy will be placed under review by the EC. Until this process is complete, members should oppose the introduction of any new co-responder schemes whilst awaiting national guidance following any national agreement. Any nationally negotiated proposals on co-responder schemes shall be subjected to full consultation of the FBU membership before final decision.

We note that other organisations have encouraged their members to parcitipate in co-responder schemes outside of agreed national role maps and without adequate professional standards. Therefore in order to ensure that negotiations are not jeopardised members are advised not to take part in any existing or new co-responder schemes until national guidance is issued. A moratorium on the application of internal Union discipline procedures in respect of our current co-responder policy will be introduced for the duration of this process

SO
The one put in by the EC wanted us to agree to discuss co-responding with our employers but also placed a moritorum so that anyone who carried out co-responding either before or during negotiations would not be subject to discipline.
HOW THE FECK DO YOU THINK OUR EMPLOYERS WOULDN'T ABUSE THAT.

To allow members to participate in co-responding schemes before negotiations even started would mean every money grabbing b4st4rd would jump on the bandwagon for a few extra quid. Then the employers don't need to negotiate because they would have already got people to do the dirty on the rest of their colleagus. The union couldn't discipline any of them so we would be fecked. We would suffer while they were what would amount to sc ab bi ng.

The issue of Control Operators was brought up and it was pretty much made clear that whilst they recieved these calls they had no way of knowing what type of call was being recieved. I doubt very much whether any Con Ops will be thrown out of the union for this.

I will say this though, a minority of FBU members want to carry out co-responding and I'm sorry webcam but it's not the FBU's fault that ambulance services throughout the country are being depleted. If we as a union said NO to co-responding then maybe, just maybe, the money they are prepared to throw at us could be used to fund the shortfalls in the ambulance services. The last time I looked it the sign on the side of our fire engine said "FIRE AND RESCUE" AND NO MENTION OF MEDICAL. FIREFIGHTER it does what it says on the tin.