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Union to stay away from Labour by Andrew Lynch |
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This year’s Fire Brigades Union conference in Southport, May 9-11, served to further entrench views on co-responding, Labour Party disaffiliation and pay, whilst controversial issues such as the right to vote for minority groups was squeezed off the agenda
AFTER CANCELLING LAST YEAR’S CONFERENCE FOLLOWING the flood of recall conferences over the pay dispute, onlookers could have been forgiven for expecting heated debate and challenge to the new leadership. On the whole, however, conference was low-key, with hot topics such as co-responding and withdrawing the right to vote for minority groups either held in closed session or withdrawn. Even the Fire Minister Angela Smith was given a (luke)warm reception, to which former President Ruth Winters chastised representatives. The co-responding debate was held behind closed doors and led to the upholding of current conference policy with delegates overturning the Executive Council’s strategy for change. No end in sight then to the co-responding deadlock.
Behind the scenes, Northern Ireland was persuaded to drop its resolution to withdraw the right to vote from minority groups. Although forwarded as a democratic move to represent as accurately as possible the overall membership’s view, the move has been the source of scrutiny from the Service as a whole (see FIRE, May pg 5). If the resolution had been debated and overthrown the issue would have been laid to rest. As it is, this divisive and potentially explosive resolution will continue to cast a shadow over the union. Conference, one presumes, would have found itself on a surer footing with discussions on the pay formula; even if there isn’t one. For the record, mid-way through conference the stewards staged an impromptu strike over… pay!
Pay Formula
General Secretary Matt Wrack outlined the background to the pay impasse, pointing to the government’s public sector pay policy of restricting pay increases to two per cent or less. He criticised 16 per cent CFOA pay rises as being “one rule for them and one for us”. He detailed the current situation, laid out as stage 4 and 5 of the 2003 pay formula, with employers seeing it as a five year, five stage deal which is therefore at an end. The pay formula has served the Fire Service well for 25 years, he maintained, and there is nothing to stop the employers from continuing that. “The Fire Service could do with the stability.” This was to become a recurrent theme of conference, with the majority appearing to support this approach. Matt pointed to the huge changes in the Fire and Rescue Service – from the FRS Act, to IRMPs, the abolition of CFBAC and the Appointment and Promotion Regulations – as evidence of the scale of change. “It is nonsense to say that not enough has changed – the problem is keeping pace with change, which brings enormous pressures on members.” He asserted to the employers: “We will sit down and discuss, and if possible we will avoid a fight. No-one wants to see local disputes. If you force a fight we will fight. Deliver the pay formula for 2007 – we can sit down and discuss the next few years – but we need 2007 sorted out now.” Northern Ireland praised the EC’s “pragmatic and level-headed approach to pay”, having just come through the “most tumultuous period” in history. It would be neither “unrealistic” or “unreasonable” to ask for stability, they maintained.
Avon expressed disappointment with the EC, demanding a more resolute stance. Without the pay formula, they maintained, it would be a postcode lottery on pay. Strathclyde questioned the EC’s resolution to secure a deal for 2007 only, and implored conference to look at a pay formula for 2007 and beyond.
Lothian and Borders, represented by Ruth Winters, said that the employers were playing games, stating that: “The only way they’ll change their minds is if we change it for them. We can learn from the last campaign. The only way to keep the pay formula is to continue it. We must stand up to them. We went on a 15- day strike for that pay formula – let’s hope it doesn’t go down the river. It is time to stop blaming and start shaming.” Conference carried Northern Ireland’s resolution to address the long-term future of the pay formula.
Trade Union and Labour Movement
Following conference’s decision to overthrow the EC and disaffiliate from the Labour Party in 2004, the EC this time moved to continue the disconnection. This was met with overwhelming support, especially from the devolved representatives, who have made some progress in the regions.
Matt Wrack contested that disaffiliation had not prevented involvement, pointing to the close relationship with potential leadership challenger John McDonnell and the “outstanding work with the Parliamentary Group.” It had proved a useful forum for both challenging government and finding out information, he asserted. The disillusionment is with Blair and Labour, he suggested, reaffirming that the EC believed it would be premature to re-affiliate to Labour. Supporters of disaffiliation pointed to the union’s staunch support for a socialist system of society, a resolution enshrined in its rule book. Tayside pointed to how they were developing relationships across the political divide, leading to the FBU chairing the equality and diversity committee looking into the Scottish Cultural Audit. Scotland has its own HMI, own Health and Safety Executive, and its own parliament, the representative challenged, which would all be under threat if the FBU were to re-affiliate to Labour. “Give us the tools to do the job,” he urged.
North Wales also pointed to many successes since devolution, outlining its involvement with the risk reduction plan and input into the national framework document, close relations with the Welsh Assembly and development of service delivery standards. That could not have been achieved without disaffiliation from Labour, the representative declared. Northern Ireland pointed to the Labour Party’s abusive treatment of the union stating that “we didn’t leave them, they left us.” They drew attention to Tony Benn’s comments that Labour is not a socialist party but is a party with socialists in it. South Yorkshire took the opposite stance, stressing the difference between the Labour Party and the party of government. The Labour Party still has trade unionism flowing through it, he maintained, and the representative also lent his support to the socialist system of society. He challenged: “Are your members best served outside the Labour Party or would we serve them better inside? We have more power on the inside.” Overwhelming support was given to the EC to continue disaffiliation.
Political Addresses
In his address to conference, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber told representatives that it is a critical time for the membership, with the pay formula due to run out in the next few weeks. He outlined the backdrop – the last few years seeing the biggest upheaval in the history of the Service. “None of us are opposed to genuine modernisation,” he claimed. “The FBU have the right to question untested reforms from above. IRMPs are often used as justification for damaging cuts, replacing standards of cover with a postcode lottery. “The Select Committee were not convinced about IRMPs being fit for response to major incidents. They were also not impressed with regional control centres which are three years overdue and over-budget. In the last two years IT costs for regional controls have increased by 50 per cent. The financial case for regionalisation is falling apart.”
Even CFOA are talking of the “huge challenge” posed by regional controls, he stated, calling for a “fundamental” re-think by government. Brendan claimed that the “botched reform” of the Fire and Rescue Service is “symptomatic of major projects”. He closed, saying: “Either continue with a discredited programme which has neither the support of staff or the public, or work with the union to provide a world-class service. Labour has to take that courage to win the next General Election.” Fire Minister Angela Smith became the first female minister to address conference and the first for six years. She began by pointing to the common ground for working together, whilst highlighting some “home truths”.
This included the admission of the government need for better communications at all levels, nationally and locally. “Poor communications led to misunderstandings getting out of hand. We want to talk to you early on. We want to build a degree of trust and stability. We want to work in partnership and listen carefully to each other.” She said the Fire and Resilience Directorate wish to be more open and that the best way to move forward is together. In closing, she suggested there were three main areas to address: engagement; meeting new challenges; and the need to keep talking on all issues, even on areas of disagreement. |
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