THE FIRE BRIGADE'S UNION NEW YORK PROJECT

About this project

On 19th November 2001 the Hull Trade Union Studies Centre was relaunched in new premises as part of East Riding College in partnership with the TUC. A key feature of the ceremony was the satellite link with City University in New York, it also being an established centre for workers education. We share many qualities; a vision of a better world and the role of learning as a vehicle for improvement are but two. Conversely our respective cultures, work patterns and union organisation are sometimes poles apart, we have much to teach but we also have much to learn. And so the idea to forge closer links developed the possibility of joint study groups and maybe, in our most optimistic moments, just maybe, an exchange study programme.

More than two years later on, after much seed sowing, organisation and hard work, that dream has developed into something tangible. The FBU, Humberside Fire Brigade and East Riding College Trade Union Studies Centre have co-operated to bring about this international study project. 12 Fire Fighters from Humberside have been selected and will meet on a regular basis to identify our objectives, do research and develop skills to successfully complete the project. The group will go to New York to meet with their counterparts and compare organisations, standards and procedures.

On return to the UK the whole experience will be written up and published hopefully in time to influence the future of the Fire & Rescue Service in Humberside. So, for anyone interested in the roles, responsibilities and remuneration, operational procedures, and the potential for harmonisation of the emergency services this report is for you!

Ron Oldfield, course tutor, UK

New York Study group Projects

1) Co- responding - Ian Murray & Sean Starbuck

With the enforced changes that are being put on the UK Fire Service, one of which is entering into Co-responder schemes. We aim to look at in our project:

How Co-responding is managed,
The training provided,
How its funded,
The relationship with the Fire-fighting,
The relationship with other agencies involved.

2) Training - Tony Wood & Ian Fraser

The aim of our study is to compare the policies and procedures of Humberside Fire & Rescue Service (HFRS) with those of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), in relation to new firefighters, focusing specifically on;

Recruitment and selection
Initial Training
Probation/Qualifying Period

3) Community Fire Safety - Paul Harvey & Graham Quickfall

A report on the current and future commitments to: Community Fire Safety in the Humberside Fire & Rescue Service and the New York Fire Dept. The final report will include a comparison between the two Services and details of how they finance their initiatives.

4) Mobilization & Weight of response - Dave Collingwood & Ashley Oldfield

With imminent changes due to fire cover in the UK, we aim to identify if the current fire cover in Humberside is effective and to use information from FDNY to help make comparisons and ultimately make recommendations on cover. As a comparison we are going to look at:

Size and population Staten Island
Fire stats for Staten Island
FDNY criteria for fire cover and response times to all types of incidents
FDNY policy on responses to automatic fire alarms

5) Commercial fire safety - Paul Kirke & Graham Eastwood

To look at comparable Fire Safety Organisation between Humberside fire & Rescue Service and the FDNY, we aim to study;

Fire Safety organisation comparison
Examine UK / NY legislation and Codes of Practice
How is Fire Safety enforced
How are statistical Fire Safety databases utilised
How are Fire Safety Risks managed

6) Organisation - Alan Watcham & Mick Broughton

To look comparably at the FDNY and Humberside fire & Rescue Service taking in the following points:

Geographical size and similarities
Location and placing of fire stations
Appliance design and safety
Operational establishment structure
Corporate Finance-how is it raised/spent

Meet the Team

RON OLDFIELD

Union Position	NATFHE Member
Age	55
Job	Trade Union Studies Co-Ordinator
Workplace	East Riding College, Hull
Email Address	ron@tradeunionstudies.com

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ASHLEY OLDFIELD

Union Position	'D' division Chair
Age	31
Job	Fire Fighter
Workplace	Goole Fire Station
Email Address	Redashathome@aol.com

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Benny Watcham

Union Position	Membership Secretary
Age	47
Job	Fire Fighter
Workplace	Immingham West Fire Station
Email Address	bennywatcham@yahoo.co.uk

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DAVE COLLINGWOOD

Union Position	Divisional Secretary
Age	32
Job	Fire Fighter
Workplace	Bransholme Fire Station
Email Address	dangeroustucuk@yahoo.co.uk

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GRAHAM EASTWOOD

Union Position	FBU Member
Age	49
Job	Fire Safety
Workplace	North Bank Fire Safety
Email Address	graham@swine.karoo.co.uk

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GRAHAM QUICKFALL

Union Position	C Division Chair
Age	42
Job	Leading Firefighter
Workplace	Peaks Lane Grimsby, N.E. Lincolnshire
Email Address	garham.quickfall@ntlworld.com

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"JOE" FRASER

Union Position	FBU Branch Secretary
Age	38
Job	Firefighter
Workplace	West Hull Fire Station
Email Address	jofraser999@aol.com

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IAN MURRAY

Union Position	Brigade Chair
Age	39
Job	Leading Firefighter
Workplace	West Hull Fire Station
Email Address	ian@muzza.karoo.co.uk

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"MICKY" BROUGHTON

Union Position	Branch Secretary
Age	45
Job	Leading Firefighter
Workplace	Grimsby N.E. Licolnshire
Email Address	mickybrog@yahoo.co.uk

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PAUL HARVEY

Union Position	C Division Secretary
Age	47
Job	Firefighter
Workplace	Peaks Lane, Grimsby, N E Lincolnshire
Email Address	paul.harvey9@ntlworld.com

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PAUL KIRKE

Union Position	Officer's Section Secretary
Age	45
Job	Fire Safety Officer
Workplace	North Bank Fire Safety - Hull
Email Address	paulkirkepg@aol.com

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SEAN STARBUCK

Union Position	Brigade Secretary
Age	38
Job	Firefighter
Workplace	Goole Fire Station
Email Address	starbi@fsmail.net

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TONY WOOD

Union Position	FBU Member
Age	48
Job	Divisional Officer (Group Manager)
Workplace	Personal Development Group
Email Address	tonywood@tonywood.karoo.co.uk

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