FBU facing costly bill after planned head office relocation collapses at eleventh hour

WORD HAS REACHED this blog that a planned relocation of the Fire Brigades Union’s (FBU) head office has fallen through at the eleventh hour, causing the union a massive logistical headache and potentially costing it many thousands of pounds in professional fees. The union had agreed the terms of sale for its current head office… Continue reading FBU facing costly bill after planned head office relocation collapses at eleventh hour

Major development in FBU ‘hush money’ scandal, as trade union watchdog appoints official inspector to investigate secret payments

THE ‘HUSH MONEY’ SCANDAL that has plagued the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) for the past three years took another significant turn earlier today after news broke that the trade union regulator had decided to take the highly unusual step of appointing an official inspector to investigate allegations that secret exit payments were made to a… Continue reading Major development in FBU ‘hush money’ scandal, as trade union watchdog appoints official inspector to investigate secret payments

FBU leadership rushed to accept employers’ first pay offer – now firefighters are set to end up with worst settlement in public sector

Wikimedia Commons / Nick Efford

FIREFIGHTERS LOOK SET to end up with the lowest pay award in the public sector this year after the government confirmed yesterday (29 July) that it would accept the recommendations of pay review bodies covering teachers, NHS staff, police officers, the armed services, judges, doctors, dentists, prison officers and civil servants. The outcome is likely… Continue reading FBU leadership rushed to accept employers’ first pay offer – now firefighters are set to end up with worst settlement in public sector

FBU leadership’s rush to accept first pay offer looks more and more a blunder as other public sector workers stand to receive over a third more

Wikimedia Commons / Roger Blackwell

BACK IN May, this blog criticised the FBU leadership over its handling of a pay offer from the national fire service employers. We highlighted how, on 25 April, literally within hours of having received an offer of a 4% increase – the very first offer made by the employers in the annual pay round –… Continue reading FBU leadership’s rush to accept first pay offer looks more and more a blunder as other public sector workers stand to receive over a third more

Why Matt Wrack’s ‘It wasn’t me, guv’ plea over hush money deals just won’t wash

REPORTS HAVE REACHED this blog that, at the annual conference of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) last week, general secretary Matt Wrack attempted to distance himself from the ongoing ’hush money’ scandal, which centres on the payment of large sums of members’ money, alongside the issuing of gagging orders, to union employees – including elected… Continue reading Why Matt Wrack’s ‘It wasn’t me, guv’ plea over hush money deals just won’t wash

Victory for rank-and-file democracy, as attempt to ban Campaign For a Democratic FBU falls flat

A BID TO persuade the annual conference of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) to proscribe Campaign For a Democratic FBU has failed. Yesterday (23 May), this blog reported that an emergency resolution had been submitted to the conference – which is taking place in Blackpool this week – calling for our group to be outlawed… Continue reading Victory for rank-and-file democracy, as attempt to ban Campaign For a Democratic FBU falls flat

FBU annual conference to vote on emergency resolution calling for witch-hunt against Campaign For a Democratic FBU

AN EMERGENCY RESOLUTION attacking Campaign For a Democratic FBU and calling for us to be effectively banned has been submitted to the FBU’s annual conference, which is taking place in Blackpool this week. The resolution, which will be moved by the Scottish delegation, accuses our group of attempting to ‘sow division and disunity within the… Continue reading FBU annual conference to vote on emergency resolution calling for witch-hunt against Campaign For a Democratic FBU

FBU leadership sells head office – nice of them to tell us!

'For Sale' sign outside FBU head office in Kingston-Upon-Thames

NEWS REACHES THIS blog that the leadership of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has decided to sell the union’s head office in Kingston-Upon-Thames – where it has been located for almost 40 years – and to purchase a new property in central London. The decision, which is likely to carry significant financial and operational implications… Continue reading FBU leadership sells head office – nice of them to tell us!

Pay offer: debate stymied and annual conference sidelined (again)

Wikimedia Commons / Paul Oldfield

FIRE BRIGADES UNION (FBU) members are currently being balloted on a pay offer tabled by the national fire service employers. The offer – which can be read in full here – includes: The union’s executive council is recommending a ‘yes’ vote in the ballot. The offer, if accepted, will take effect from the annual pay… Continue reading Pay offer: debate stymied and annual conference sidelined (again)

Astonishing new twist in FBU ‘hush money’ scandal as general secretary refuses to answer MPs’ questions

Matt Wrack giving evidence to the home affairs select committee on 5 March

IN AN EXTRAORDINARY move, the general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), Matt Wrack, has refused to provide information to a key committee of MPs who were seeking clarification over his claim, made to them in an oral evidence session, that he was not aware of any cases where the union had reached non-disclosure… Continue reading Astonishing new twist in FBU ‘hush money’ scandal as general secretary refuses to answer MPs’ questions