Janine,

I apologise if your e-mail of 17 January has been misinterpreted.  It did seem like a long and involved rejection of the Union’s proposal.

However, it is a little disingenuous to say that you ”sought some wording changes to the suggested Working Party wording.” 

I would suggest you sought something considerably more than that.

As far as we see it, you continue your claim  to demand the wording you want regarding Relieving Positions.

As you say however, we must find “a mutually acceptable solution to the issue of additional relieving staff.”

The Union’s concerns can be summarized as:

-              Health & Safety concerns over any relieving systems;

-              Reduction in firefighters’ income;

-              Casualization/loss of certainty of employment hours;

-              Relieving positions must be attractive enough that people will apply for them –

                It is pointless establishing a method of employing additional staff, if no one wishes to be employed as such.

Given your stated commitment to find a mutually acceptable solution, and given that the provision we have proposed is apparently unacceptable to the employer/management, and given that the provision you have proposed is unacceptable to the Union and its members, it would seem most useful to again meet with the assistance of the Mediator.

In any event, I understand that the Labour Dept is attempting to arrange such a meeting.

Regards

Derek Best