Fire and rescue services

We provide the secretariat to the Employers' Side of the National Joint Council (NJC) for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services and Middle Managers Negotiating Body (MMNB).

The Local Authority Fire and Rescue Service NJC, and the Middle Managers Negotiating Body (MMNB) are the two vehicles by which collective bargaining is undertaken across the UK, for uniformed staff in Fire and Rescue Authorities/Services. Agreements reached in the NJC and MMNB are contained in the Scheme of Conditions of Service known as the Grey book.

  • The NJC is a Voluntary body which covers uniformed fire service employees from firefighter to area manager level approx. 48,000 employees.
  • The NJC covers the whole of the UK.
  • There are 14 members on each side (employee and employer).
  • Either side could withdraw with notice – so both sides agree this process supports effective industrial relations within the sector.

NJC

The NJC has 28 members.

Employers' side:

  • Local Government Association, ten members
  • the Board of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, two members
  • Welsh Local Government Association, one member
  • the Board of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Services Board, one member.

Employees' side:

  • the Fire Brigades Union, 14.

MMNB

The MMNB has 28 members.

Employers' side:

  • Local Government Association, ten members
  • the Board of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, two members
  • Welsh Local Government Association, one member
  • the Board of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Services Board, one member.

Employees' side:

  • Fire Brigades Union, 13
  • the Fire Officers Association, one.

Independent Chair and secretariat

The NJC is chaired by Professor Lynette Harris. 
Employer side secretary: Sarah Ward (Deputy Head, Workforce, LGA)
Employee side secretary: Matt Wrack (General Secretary, FBU)

Collective bargaining is where employers and trade unions come together to reach agreements on terms and conditions of employment and the NJC/MMNB is the way we do that across the UK Fire and Rescue Service.

The sixth edition of the Grey Book contains the following paragraphs within its preface:

“To this end the NJC’s principal role is to reach agreement on a national framework of pay and conditions for local application throughout the fire and rescue service in the United Kingdom. The NJC is committed to the local democratic control of the fire and rescue services to the community.”

“The NJC’s overall aim is to support and encourage the delivery of high-quality services by a competent, well-developed, motivated and diverse workforce, with security of employment.”

The pay review dates within Fire and Rescue services are:

  • NJC for Local Authority Fire & Rescue, ‘grey book’ – 1 July
  • NJC for Brigade Managers, ‘gold book’ – 1 January