Following a 12th March demonstration, Unite the Union says off-duty firefighters involved have been issued informal written warnings for PPE and equipment use. The GFRS membership will again march to and demonstrate at No.6 on Friday 20^th March, with a further march and demonstration on Thursday 26^th March.

A statement from the Unite follows below:

Unite, the union for workers in Gibraltar, have today hit back at the decision by HMGOG to issue informal written warnings to those firefighters that were involved in the demonstration at No.6 on Thursday 12^th March and their public statement last week that there was impropriety in the GFRS claim.

Following the demonstration on 12^th March, the union were called to a meeting to advise that those off-duty firefighters that were involved in the demonstration would be issued informal written warnings under the General Orders for the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other operational equipment during the demonstration that day. Those warnings have been issued today. The GFRS membership decided, in an act of solidarity, that all off duty firefighters whether present on the demonstration or not would receive the informal written warning, this was a position rejected by HMGOG who have proceeded to issue the warnings to only those present.

Unite wrote to the employer and HMGOG on 1^st March to advise of the action that firefighters would be taking, including the demonstration on 5^th March and subsequent Thursdays with the express notification that PPE would be worn during the demonstration. No correspondence was received to advise that the union and its members should desist from wearing PPE for the demonstration either on the 5^th March or 12^th March. Had such a communication been received in which HMGOG could have opined that such actions may have constituted a breach of the General Orders then an informed choice could have been made as to whether to proceed with the PPE or not. Instead HMGOG wait for two demonstrations to take place and then issue warnings, seemingly relying on their press release dated 5^th March that stated Unite had taken “taxpayer-funded equipment PPE without permission” as a formal communication on this matter. No formal desist notice was received before either demonstration.

This issue has been raised with HMGOG, but no response has been received on this point and the union has raised that the General Orders have been breached insofar as an informal written warning should only be issued where there has been no improvement following the issuing of an informal verbal warning. Unsurprisingly HMGOG’s interpretation of what are pretty clear General Orders differs from Unite’s and is one that is more punitive.

Stuart Davies, National Officer for Unite Gibraltar stated: “The informal written warnings that have been issued to our GFRS membership today is a worrying development and one that has been taken with no formal, advanced notification that using PPE at the demonstration could result in disciplinary action, that is a simple tenet of natural justice. HMGOG appear to be relying on a press release as advice that such PPE should not be used, I was unaware that HMGOG now communicate with Unite via press releases. Firefighters around the world will regularly wear their firefighter garb on marches and demonstrations, yet firefighters in Gibraltar are being hit with warnings. These are warnings that in Unite’s opinion clearly breach the General Orders.

“The Unite GRFS membership take their roles and responsibilities seriously, the action taken to date has been carefully considered and the demonstrations involving off-duty GFRS personnel has been deliberately targeted to ensure a minimal impact on the service to the community. Wearing of firefighter equipment clearly provides a striking visual impact to any demonstration, the PPE was not damaged or misused in any fashion and these warnings are clearly designed to undermine the effectiveness of the demonstrations.

“Gibraltar has a proud history of taking issues to the street, whether work related or otherwise, whilst HMGOG will argue that this is not about curtailing the right of demonstration, but the tools utilised when exercising that right, it strikes a worrying development. What is the position with other public sector workers? Will other demonstrations and marches mean that members are unable to wear any branded workwear? Do we have to check with HMGOG in advance what members are allowed to wear and not as even when we expressly advise the steps the union’s members will take, we receive no formal notice to desist. These questions have been posed to HMGOG, with no response. 

“Far from cowing our membership it has strengthened their resolve, I would like to applaud the act of solidarity by other GFRS personnel in being willing to take warnings despite not being on the demonstration, an act rejected by HMGOG, this shows the unity within the membership.

“Finally I have to take issue with the HMGOG press release and their reference to impropriety in respect of the GFRS claim. This phraseology is unacceptable, I am unclear whether HMGOG have double-checked the definition of impropriety, but to brandish the GFRS claim in this manner is completely uncalled for and I invite HMGOG to withdraw that statement. Unite and our members in GFRS have submitted a claim in respect of night-shift working, this is clearly the right of working people and it is the right of HMGOG to disagree with and reject that claim, but to make claims of impropriety is inflammatory.

“The GRFS membership continue to enjoy the full support of Unite in their claim and we are touched by the numerous messages of solidarity and offers of support in the dispute from various regions of our sister trade union the Fire Brigades Union in the UK”.

The GFRS membership will once again march to and demonstrate at No.6 on Friday 20^th March, with a further march and demonstration on Thursday 26^th March.