Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has today issued a code of conduct document fact sheet for all its employees which makes it very clear that there will be no amnesty for any staff whose behaviour falls below that expected by the Service.

National General Secretary John Barton said,

"The contents of the new Code of Conduct document published by ECFRS is welcomed by the RFU specifically due to the greater protection it provides for non-striking staff and seeks to prevent and tackle the abuse of co-workers which is particularly important in a potential industrial unrest situation.

I welcome the robust approach being taken by ECFRS. For those who have in the past suffered from appalling abuse at the hands of co-workers who have no respect for their alternative views, the protection in this document is long overdue.

At times it is possible to promote and achieve mutual respect of an opposing view, we do after all live in a democracy, and mutual respect voluntarily given is by far the better option.

However on so many occasions our members have suffered because they chose to prioritise the communities they serve, and promises of protection from management  soon evaporated in a ‘No recrimination’ climate at the end of a dispute.

Our members can now have confidence that whilst doing the right thing for their friends and neighbours they will be protected by their employer."

Ends