Local Government Association,
18 Smith Square, Westminster,
London, SW1P 3HZ
Telephone 020 7187 7335
e-mail: [email protected]
Employers’ Secretary, Naomi Cooke
Direct Dial: 020 7187 7335
Website: www.local.gov.uk
FIRE & RESCUE SERVICES
National Employers
To: Chief Fire Officers
Chief Executives/Clerks to Fire Authorities
Chairs of Fire Authorities
Directors of Human Resources
CC: Members of the Employers’ Side of the NJC
9 February 2023
CIRCULAR EMP/3/23
National Employers Media Statement
- You will be aware from circular EMP/2/23 that the National Employers made an offer on pay to the employees’ side following negotiations within the NJC for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services (NJC) on Wednesday 8 February.
- The National Employers work with a cross-organisation group of media specialists drawn from the LGA, WLGA, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service and Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service. This helps to maintain a consistent media approach across the UK given the NJC is a UK-wide body. The approach within such statements can also be used to support any local conversations with the media and your fire and rescue service internal communications to further encourage consistency.
- An updated media statement following the offer late yesterday is attached. It will be kept under review as matters progress.
- We ask that you please also pass this media statement on to your communications department.
Yours faithfully,
Jamie Osowski
National Employers’ Secretariat
National employers' media statement
Firefighters have been offered a pay increase of 7 per cent effective from 1 July 2022 and 5 per cent effective from 1 July 2023.
The National Employers, who negotiate pay on behalf of all fire & rescue services across the UK, has also proposed a programme of talks to explore the other matters raised in the claim.
We welcome the Fire Brigades Union commitment to consult its members on the offer and its commitment that no strike dates will be called while that happens.
Cllr Nick Chard, Chair of the National Employers said: "Our dedicated fire and rescue staff are rightly held in high regard by the public for their tireless efforts to help save lives and prevent fires."
“The National Employers remain committed to resolving this dispute through discussion, which we have demonstrated throughout these talks.
“We hope that this offer will be accepted so that firefighters can receive this significant uplift in pay as soon as possible and strike action can be averted.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
- The National Joint Council (NJC) for Local Authority Fire & Rescue Services is the joint employer and employee representative body that sets the pay, terms and conditions framework for approx. 48,500 uniformed employees in the fire service across the UK, including firefighters and control staff but not including senior management posts.
- Employer representatives on the NJC are drawn from the Local Government Association, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board, Welsh Local Government Association and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Board. Employee representatives are drawn from the Fire Brigades Union.