September members update

Dear IFESA members,

In an effort to keep you updated as to what is going on Nationally I have briefly outlined what IFESA has been working on.We are trying to find a balance on what information to communicate to members as we have found Fire service management have been tipped off as to what our strategy is in recruitment and on upcoming issues by previous updates its all a question of balance which we try and get right but donʼt always succeed in. Firstly I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Interim Chairperson John Kidd who has stepped down from his position in IFESA.John was key in establishing IFESA and getting it off the ground with out his involvement and energy we would not be where we are today.We all in IFESA wish him well in his retirement.Thank you John.

It has been a busy summer for IFESA with many members issues dealt with successfully from local issues resolved to Court case.More stations have joined your Union.Their are quite a few Counties now with nearly 90% of FF in these counties now IFESA members.We donʼt publicise what stations are coming onboard as we have found that fire service management are more interested in our emails etc to members than members at times. Our last newsletter in August outlined some of the issues we are working on.Our website www.ifesa.ie and our Facebook page are continuously updated. Their is still a lot of work to be done and FF need to become more involved. It is becoming more apparent that the reason behind the establishment of IFESA has become more important and necessary in protecting our profession as Fire Fighters. Our vision in IFESA still remains the same that is to provide a dynamic ,value driven leadership,developing and maintaining diversity within our Association whilst maintaining the integrity and ethical practice of Fire Fighter who are also pre hospital practitioners.

IFESA will provide leadership to promote a safer working environment to all.

IFESA will promote the consideration and discussion of all questions affecting the Fire service and trades or businesses connected with emergency services and generally to watch over and protect the interests of persons engaged with the emergency services.

IFESA has constituted a body of experienced Firefighters ,Emergency Service Personnel who will be available to give evidence before Commissions, Courts of Enquiry, Committees, or Boards of any description whatsoever, or governing, examining or other bodies, official or otherwise, and who will be available for advice or consultation on all questions relating to Fire & Emergency Services.

IFESA will continue to promote and support improvements in any laws, by-laws, legislative measures or regulations affecting the interests of the Association or the members, and promote, support or oppose by all constitutional means the passage through the Oireachtas of any Bill or Bills and the making of any bye-laws or regulations by any competent authority which may seem to affect the interests or the objects of the Association.

While trying not to be the bearer of bad news we have to be realistic to what is ahead of us and prepare for the worst. IFESA has been informed by reliable source that plans are afoot for major change in the Irish Fire Service with apx cuts of up to 30% in the retained and up to 15% in the Full time budgets ahead.

Regionalisation into apx 7 areas with appointment of a National Fire Commissioner type post (Chief Fire Officer Brian Sweeney from Strathclyde is in the running we under stand when he retires in a year or so)

We also have been informed that the strategy has been developed by the Fire Services Directive,Chiefs and LGSMB to continue on attacks on a County by County basis to reduce moral.

We understand they then plan to turn their attention on changes to the Retained structure nationally first. Their thinking we have been informed is that the Full-time FF will not back the retained if their was every to be a strike or threat of one.

Then they plan to turn their attention after the implementation of cuts to the retained / part time,to the full-time brigades.Their thinking being,that because the Full-time would not back retained / part time, when they came looking for major change in retained / part-time that then the retained / part time FF would now not back full-time FF as they had failed to back them.A classic divide and conquer tactic.FF are the only ones who can prevent this from happening and unite as one professional group.

With all this ahead of us as a professional group of FF we need to start organising ourselves Nationally now.Fire Fighters need to get off the fence, its decision time for us as a profession.Are we going to sit by and let our profession be decimated or are we going to stand up and fight for it as previous Fire Fighters did in the past.We have them to thank for our current term and conditions we enjoy today.As was said to me by a retired members at the launch of IFESA ,we are only minding these position for the next generation of Fire Fighters to come along.It is quite apparent that other union who have recognition rights now appear to be sitting by and letting our profession be decimated, with no action begin taken by them Nationally. Promises of only National discussion taking place and no local changes happening being totally ignored by them.

We are finding that reports in many counties are being used as a smoke screen to implement cuts and the frame work of the Croke Park agreement is being used as a way of implementing these cuts.These cuts will certainly cost lives and put many at risk.The lives of our members and also to the citizens,IFESA members serve will be at risk. The spirt of the Croke Park agreement was to deliver a better public service to the citizens of Ireland,it is out lined in section one of the Croke Park agreement.IFESA believe this can be achieved with a very simple approach that will deliver a better future to the emergency services in Ireland.

Other unions are now caught in a pickle as they represent many many type of workers in the public service,while they try to look out for them all they end up sacrificing some.With premium pay seemly back on the table we in IFESA are ready for a fight. As IFESA only represent Fire and Emergency service personnel we can concentrate wholly on these professions with no conflict of interest to others.

We have put in place the following support structures for IFESA Nationally.Our last National meeting in August saw the start of the process to elect a National Committee,as we now have members in a wide geographical spread across the country we can move forward with a National committee .It was important to us to get this structure right and develop it from the grass roots up, we have now done this.Details of this structure is available on the ifesa web site.

For legal advice on issues we have retained a legal team ranging from solicitors to barristers, which we have used very successfully to date on a number of issues.This has been a learning curve for us all in IFESA as we have come to learn that the legal wheels turn very very slowly especially when looking for advice,as the right advice and opinion can take some time in getting to.This is frustrating for all but all avenues need to be examined.

For communication and PR we have also retained a consultant with many years experience working in this area.We have developed communications and media strategy to deal with a number of issues that will be put into motion shortly.We are also preempting issues by having a strategy in place to deal with potential issues down the road.We will continue lobbying at a political level as well, especially with upcoming local elections.

For industrial relations advice we have four Industrial relation officers we can utilise from the Union structure of IFESA ,NASRA & the PNA.

For Health & Safety concerns we have within our ranks people who have relevant qualifications in H&S who are able to advise on issues,we also have professionals who have offered their services if so required to advise and consult on issues.Also with our international contacts we have a broad spectrum of resources we can draw down on if so required to do so.

For day today enquires we have the IFESA office in Sallins which will help members in day to day enquires and pass on requests to relevant IFESA reps.

We are developing a training structure for activists and reps in a wide range of disciplines and looking outside this country for people to deliver the required training to equip us with necessary skills to defend and develop our professional association.

We have formed Global alliances with other Fire Fighters unions which we have found invaluable in seeking information and support.In particular the International Association of Fire Fights (IAFF),European Union Fire Fighters Association (EUFFA) and the Fire Brigade Union UK (FBU) have been a tremendous support to us and their continued commitment to help and advise us into the future is most welcome.

All in all the future is bright for IFESA we will not be going away.We are growing at a steady rate ,we are striving to put in place the proper structure to enable us to defend ourselves properly.All this takes time and commitment of fellow Fire Fighter who are giving up their own time to try and make a difference and defend our profession.The big question recognition?It will happen, it is only a matter of time as our numbers grow nationally and we use different approaches to gain it. We ask you of your continued support and encourage fire fighter to get involved in IFESA every little bit helps.By coming together and uniting will strength us as we go forward to defend our profession and the citizens we serve.

Regards

Ros Mac Cobb

National Vice Chairperson IFESA

Fire Fighter ,Paramedic.

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