Bargaining - Collective Agreement Negotiations
The Union has initiated Bargaining with the Chief Executive and Bargaining is scheduled to commence on 31 May and 1 June.
The Union will be represented by the full Committee plus the three Branch Vice Presidents.
As this is a renewal of the Collective Agreement, the Agreement will need to be ratified by members. So once a settlement is agreed at the Bargaining Table, this will be taken out to members for a Ratification Ballot.
As well as a negotiation on the figures produced from the Hay Survey Relating to the established Benchmarks at SFF and SO benchmark levels and the consequent extrapolation upwards and downwards of those figures – issues the Union will put on the table include:
- Sickness at home clause – clarification to comply with the Law
- IFE clarification
- Widen scope to include Black Watch workers from a Non-Operational background
- Maternity Leave Payment – to include Super subsidy
- Volunteer Training Allowance – clarify
- Better inclusion of Gratuity
- Insertion of AA mileage rates
- O/T Rates
- There are also a number of claims specific to Com Centres.
Updates will be provided to members as and when possible.
Integration Workstream
This involvement continues and continues to expand. Taking into account Regional forum some 50 members are involved.
The involvement includes Project Team/Working Parties on:
Total Operating Model
- High Level Design
- Operating Principals
- Regional Co design
- Command and Control
Resilient Communities
- National Planning and Local Plans
- Local risk modelling and detailed design
- Local Advisory Committees
Risk Reduction
- Fire Permitting
- Fire Control
- Evacuation Schemes
- Inspector Power
- Risk Reduction
Safety Health and Welfare
- Health Standards
- SHW Contractor Management
- Expansion of services
- Vaccinations
- Psychological Support
Volunteerism
- Design and Implementation
- Innovation Management
Particularly around the involvement in the total Operating Model and Safety Health and Welfare the involvement is both significant and deep – the time commitment is considerable – similarly for more specialised areas such as Risk Reduction.
The Unions thanks is expressed to all members involved and members not involved are more than welcome to put their names forward to the Union Office.
