On Friday 24 February the Union met with Regional Manager Turek to discuss the aerial appliance placement options.

The Union conveyed its concerns regarding the current options being proposed. In response, Regional Manager Turek has assured the Union that these options are only draft proposals and are not Regional policy. They are open to the Local and its members for consultation and no movement or relocation of appliances or personnel would take place without direct consultation with the Union; furthermore, that any staff not required to man any new aerial appliances would not be used to man any proposed decon/command units.

Mr Turek also advised the Union, when questioned as to the huge difference between the first draft proposal and the second one, that the latest one was based on responses from Chief Fire Officers to his first draft. The Union is sure that members will be able to work out which Chief Fire Officers would propose something such as this.

With this assurance, the Union would encourage its members to actively participate in the consultation process. If members are supplying written submissions, then copies of such submissions should be forwarded to the Union.
The Union will also be making submissions on this aerial appliance placement.

The current position regarding training and further activities related to Train the Trainers still stands until such time as the Union reaches a satisfactory agreement with Management on this entire issue.