HRFU

This website represents the views of Hampshire Retained Fire Fighters Union

The HRFU is the local body for the RFU. We fully support the RFU in not being affiliated to any political party and only representing firefighters who work on the Retained Duty System ensuring its independence with no conflicts of interest whilst representing its members.

Working under the umbrella of the RFU gives us their legal and political advice and we often look for them for guidance and help in various functions. However, its you the Hampshire Retained Firefighter that is our first consideration.

With all the changes currently underway many times definition, understanding or recognition of new policies are incorrectly adopted and it falls for us to identify and consult with HFRS with them. Often its identifying that a change the service wants to introduce would be impractical for retained. HFRS are making monumental efforts to accept RDS Fire fighters but historically it is a real paradigm shift for them.

Currently the government has the fire service in its sites. Having agreed the recent pay deal they now want to claw back some of the expense and they are doing this by redefining what the fire service is and does.

This in essence is not all bad. The Fire service has been running unchecked and essentially unaccountable since its inception. Always doing a fantastic job but never questioning if it could be done any better or more cost effectively. The governments ideology is to make the Fire service more efficient and more cost effective.

But can they and are they right people to be doing this? Are bean counters and politicians really qualified to identify how a service which reacts instantly, with a varying array of resources, to emergency calls can be rationalised?

There can be no argument that the Fire Service is an old archaic beast who needs dragging at time kicking and screaming, into the twenty first century. Through fairer treatment for all of its employees, through providing a more comprehensive and cost effective service to the members of the public who pay for it to recognising modern day work standards the service is ripe for change.

But, this change, like any project needs proper coordination and management. Integrating all of the demands and inputs and taking a n evolutionary project cycle. At the moment the government is throwing many massive changes at the Fire Service all at once. Some ill though through and impractical. The Fire service is not having a chance to be proactive but just reacts as more and more changes cascade down.

We are there all the time helping, cajoling, consulting and negotiating the fate of the RDS fire fighter in Hampshire.

County Committee Members


The above document is a pdf of committee members. However we have removed all emails for technical reasons. If you have any enquiries, please contact us here.