Ballot Result - Collective Agreement Proposed Settlement
Herewith is the Returning Officer’s Declaration of the Ballot.
The result – some 80% of members voting to accept the offer – endorses the Committee’s recommendation and provides a Collective Agreement for members, to expire on 31 December 2010.
Strike Action
As a consequence of the Ratification, members are advised that strike action will cease at 1200 hours Wednesday 23 December 2009.
Members should note advice regarding “catch-up” work as provided in Newsletter No.50 and as discussed at Ratification meetings.
Operational Skills Maintenance
Newsletter No.23 advised members of a ban on involvement with OSM until and unless Union concerns were properly addressed.
Because of the strike action, involvement in OSM was not occurring because of the strike. Now that strike action has been lifted, the Union ban on OSM involvement stands in its own right.
As a consequence of the ban, the Fire Service has agreed to meet with Union officials. One meeting has been held at which Ian Wright and Mike Powell represented the Union. However, that one meeting has not come close to resolving Union concerns.
Consequently, members are advised that until and unless advised otherwise by the Union, the ban on any involvement with OSM will continue.