12-15-2015, 05:30 PM
(source Facebook)
The message below is from the FBU’s executive council member for London, Ian Leahair, and is for the attention of all London members.
MTFA/MCR: NO AGREEMENT WITH FBU
The FBU is aware that London Fire Brigade managers have been actively seeking volunteers to undertake training in relation to advanced trauma care and mass casualty retrieval (MCR) as part of a Marauding Terrorism and Firearms Attack (MTFA) response. This type of work would involve working in what is described as the ‘warm zone’ following a terrorist-related incident.
Delicate discussions surrounding all this type of work are currently taking place between national FBU officials and national fire service employers under the auspices of the National Joint Council (NJC). The proposed work is not currently part of a firefighter’s contractual role. However, discussions are progressing carefully, and both sides hope to reach an agreement.
We are therefore extremely disappointed that LFB managers have sought to pre-empt the outcome of these national discussions by pushing ahead with this training prematurely. We are also disappointed that they saw fit not to consult with the FBU over this initiative.
There are a whole range of factors to be considered when committing firefighters into the ‘warm zone’ at any terrorist-related incident. That’s why it was deemed appropriate for discussions to take place at a national level.
We understand entirely why members would be anxious to ensure the best possible response is provided in the event of a terrorist-related incident. However, there are real risks to members in volunteering for such work in the absence of a national agreement. Volunteering would serve only to undermine the efforts of the FBU in seeking to ensure the safest systems of work, best equipment and proper legal protections are in place before our members are asked to take part in MTFA-related work.
Furthermore, we are not satisfied at this stage that sufficient guarantees are in place to ensure that a full injury award would become payable under the pension scheme in the event that a member was retired on grounds of ill-health as a result of an injury sustained while undertaking this work. There may also be an impact on members’ private insurance policies (such as life insurance), as quite often these policies will contain restrictive clauses about work of this nature.
Additionally, in the absence of a national agreement, no death benefit or disablement payments would be made under the Accident and Injury Fund.
These important matters continue to be discussed at a national level, and sufficient guarantees must be in place before any agreement is reached. That’s why we urge members very strongly to consider the impact on themselves and their families in volunteering for such a role in the absence of safe systems of work, proper legal protections and guarantees over the effect on their pensions and insurance.
Members may also be interested to learn that some senior managers have been offered payments of £1,000 as well as salary enhancements of up to 10% to undertake this type of work, while it would appear that those in the role of firefighter to watch manager have been offered nothing.
In light of everything above, the FBU strongly believes that members should refrain from volunteering for any MTFA/MCR-related work at this time. We would further advise anyone who has previously volunteered to exercise their right to withdraw their application.
Yours fraternally
Ian Leahair
Executive Council Member (London Region)
Fire Brigades Union
The message below is from the FBU’s executive council member for London, Ian Leahair, and is for the attention of all London members.
MTFA/MCR: NO AGREEMENT WITH FBU
The FBU is aware that London Fire Brigade managers have been actively seeking volunteers to undertake training in relation to advanced trauma care and mass casualty retrieval (MCR) as part of a Marauding Terrorism and Firearms Attack (MTFA) response. This type of work would involve working in what is described as the ‘warm zone’ following a terrorist-related incident.
Delicate discussions surrounding all this type of work are currently taking place between national FBU officials and national fire service employers under the auspices of the National Joint Council (NJC). The proposed work is not currently part of a firefighter’s contractual role. However, discussions are progressing carefully, and both sides hope to reach an agreement.
We are therefore extremely disappointed that LFB managers have sought to pre-empt the outcome of these national discussions by pushing ahead with this training prematurely. We are also disappointed that they saw fit not to consult with the FBU over this initiative.
There are a whole range of factors to be considered when committing firefighters into the ‘warm zone’ at any terrorist-related incident. That’s why it was deemed appropriate for discussions to take place at a national level.
We understand entirely why members would be anxious to ensure the best possible response is provided in the event of a terrorist-related incident. However, there are real risks to members in volunteering for such work in the absence of a national agreement. Volunteering would serve only to undermine the efforts of the FBU in seeking to ensure the safest systems of work, best equipment and proper legal protections are in place before our members are asked to take part in MTFA-related work.
Furthermore, we are not satisfied at this stage that sufficient guarantees are in place to ensure that a full injury award would become payable under the pension scheme in the event that a member was retired on grounds of ill-health as a result of an injury sustained while undertaking this work. There may also be an impact on members’ private insurance policies (such as life insurance), as quite often these policies will contain restrictive clauses about work of this nature.
Additionally, in the absence of a national agreement, no death benefit or disablement payments would be made under the Accident and Injury Fund.
These important matters continue to be discussed at a national level, and sufficient guarantees must be in place before any agreement is reached. That’s why we urge members very strongly to consider the impact on themselves and their families in volunteering for such a role in the absence of safe systems of work, proper legal protections and guarantees over the effect on their pensions and insurance.
Members may also be interested to learn that some senior managers have been offered payments of £1,000 as well as salary enhancements of up to 10% to undertake this type of work, while it would appear that those in the role of firefighter to watch manager have been offered nothing.
In light of everything above, the FBU strongly believes that members should refrain from volunteering for any MTFA/MCR-related work at this time. We would further advise anyone who has previously volunteered to exercise their right to withdraw their application.
Yours fraternally
Ian Leahair
Executive Council Member (London Region)
Fire Brigades Union
