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
30 January 2023
CIRCULAR EMP/1/23
Fire Brigades Union strike ballot
- You will be aware that the Fire Brigades Union has undertaken a strike action ballot of its members in respect of the current pay award negotiation. The ballot closed today and we are advised the required thresholds in support of strike action have been met.
Next steps
2. Discussions will continue with the Fire Brigades Union to endeavour to resolve the matter through discussion and without recourse to industrial action.
3. Fire and rescue authority Chairs, Chief Fire Officers and Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners received invitations last week to attend a further National Employers pay consultation meeting on 6 February.
4. The National Employers and the National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services will meet on 8th February.
5. The Fire Brigades Union has made a commitment that it will not notify fire and rescue authorities of strike action in advance of that NJC meeting.
6. While it is hoped that strike action will not occur, and we continue to work towards that, fire and rescue authorities and services are reminded that we have already issued the information below and you may therefore wish to refamiliarise yourselves with the content:
- industrial action FAQs - , containing detailed advice including, where necessary, of a fire service specific nature. Further queries should be directed to [email protected]
- Major incidents agreement - the NJC has already reached a framework agreement, which requires some action at local level, in respect of attendance of striking FBU members at major incidents,
Media interest
7. To support conversations with the media around this dispute, the National Employers has worked with its cross-organisation group of media specialists drawn from the LGA, WLGA, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service and the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service. This also supports consistency of approach and documents have been updated periodically as necessary. A revised media statement is attached and will also be kept under review.
Yours faithfully,
Gill Gittins
Assistant Employers’ Secretary