The FBU are aware that an RDS crewing availability slots trial is taking part on 3 retained stations but that is about all that we know. The FBU have been kept out of the loop on the introduction of these trials and as such registered a dispute with HFRS over its introduction with no consultation / negotiation with the FBU on what is clearly a contractual change being required. The 3 stations volunteered to trial the availability rota scheme.
Following completion of the trial the FBU intend to visit the stations and find out all of the successes and pitfalls that they have discovered because it is highly likely that the management will then come back to try to negotiate an agreement on its introduction. The FBU would like to remind you that the introduction of this sort of changes in the workplace can only be done by agreement with the FBU or by issuing a 90 day notice to more or less dismiss and re-engage firefighters. That is an option we do not think HFRS would be wise to pick a fight with RDS members over.
Rest assured, the FBU will fight tooth and nail for the best deal for RDS members and if ultimately YOU decide you do not want this avialbility Rota system then that is the position the FBU will put to management.

Following a number of RDS members raising with the FBU, concerns regarding a new Monitoring Form being distributed to stations for all personnel to complete, a meeting was requested with management to try to address this issue.
The meeting took place with ACO D Sanders, AM D Oprey & RDS Harmonisation Officer Dr Dave Paton outlining HFRS’s reasons for the requested information. The FBU then relayed the concerns that had been raised by their RDS members and in particular, who would have access to this collected information or where it would be relayed onto. Management stated there was no hidden agenda for the request, but they needed it to comply with requirements under the ‘Working Time Directive’. They then said that following the concerns being raised they would revisit the form and its contents to try to address the issues.
Following on from this meeting, a new revised form was produced that allows HFRS to now aquire the relevant information they need to comply with the WTD but importantly the information supplied will now be sent on anywhere to other ‘parties’
If anyone has any concerns or are not sure that they are completing the correct latest version of the form, please contact an FBU Brigade Official via the ‘Contact Us’ link or via mobile phone on the numbers provided.

Following the agreement ‘reached in principal’ on the RDS Modernisation Project the FBU have received in writing what management want to introduce as a way of achieving the 100% availability of Appliances. They are:

1. Targeted incentive schemes for times of extremely low availability when recruitment is not an option. Such schemes have yet to be considered and agreed.
2. Detachement / Deployment of RDS personnel from stations with surplus staff to stations with availability problems. This will be on a voluntary basis and can be anticipated via the 7 day availability forecast.
3. Early agreement and publication of a flexible mixed crewing policy which,in the first instance, will address the issue of WT to RDS movement on a temporary basis but will ultimately facilitate the two way temporary movements of both RDS and W/T staff to each other’s stationsin order to cover unforseen shortfalls in crewing levels.This Policy is not intended to be a vehicle for the reduction in either W/T or RDS establishment.

Further meetings will be taking place to explore these options further and the FBU will be consulting with members throughout this process. Any members who require further details please contact a Brigade official via the ‘contact us’ link or send your own e-mail address via the site and request to be included in the Humberside FBU Newsletter / Update provider.Š