The Suffolk Hyde Affair - Doc 35 History of Firefighting in Suffolk

General Overview of Events February 1999

2nd February
Y returns to duty, Under normal understanding of the "status quo" prescribed in the grievance procedure and in the absence of further advice or notification he continues in the role of T/LFf. In consequence, the seven strong establishment strength of blue watch now consists of two T/LFf’s. i.e. Y’s replacement has by now transferred on to the watch. It cannot be recalled if the watch officer, SubO Tiffen was on duty. Whatever, the consensus was that Y would continue as T/LFf until the grievance was heard and the watch would run with two T/LFf’s. As for T/ADO Saward he was not present at Lowestoft on this day. Other ADO’s were present and witnessed the days events at Lowestoft and seemed completely at ease with the situation.

3rd February
T/ADO Saward was on duty, but not at Lowestoft. During the daytime Y contacted T/ADO Saward to advise him that he could not attend the grievance hearing at 0900 hrs on 4th February. Y would not be on duty and was between day and night shifts. By mutual consent it was agreed to move Y’s first stage grievance hearing to 5th February when Y was on night shift. Y overtly introduced himself as T/LFf to T/ADO Saward and left him in no doubt he was still performing the LFf role. T/ADO Saward expressed no concern at this situation. During the shift the crew were engaged in damping down at the great fire of Lowestoft (Hippodrome bingo hall ?). Whilst at the incident a Ff sustained an accident by way of splashing into his eyes when disconnecting a hose coupling before releasing pressure at the branch. This was reported via the Brigade accident reporting system, which involved recording by control. Y was mentioned as witness or OiC in the report sent to control, which was then passed to Brigade senior officers.

4th February
At around 1400hrs T/ADO Saward telephones SubO Tiffen at his home. The discussion concerns Y and his T/Lf status. T/ADO Saward tells SubO Tiffen he has been told that Y is carrying on with his temporary promotion. In reply SubO Tiffen tells T/ADO Saward what he knows about the situation and that Y has invoked the grievance procedure, which provides a status quo. T/ADO tells SubO Tiffen to sort it out at the evening shift. The latter is left confused and has he said at the time to me (offensive words omitted), "Saward’s the station commander he should sort it out……why do I have to get involved."
After parade at 1800 hrs SubO Tiffen then told Y of the telephone conversation he had earlier with T/ADO Saward and that the latter wanted him to instruct Y to revert to Ff. So in the first instance Y removed his bars. In response Y told SubO Tiffen that he had invoked the grievance and that the status quo applied. On reference to the Brigade grievance procedure document SubO Tiffen agreed. So with SubO Tiffen’s agreement Y put his bars back on. This was further agreed after Y consulted with Suffolk FBU officials who confirmed that Y was fully entitled to retain his temporary LFf position until the grievance had run it full course. And that a failure to uphold the status quo would be a breach of contract. SubO Tiffen accepted the advice received from FBU officials and sought no further clarification from T/ADO Saward or the relevant duty Divisional Officer. He was of the opinion that T/ADO Saward could deal with the status quo provision at the initial grievance hearing on 5th February. So the watch continued to function with two Temporary LFf’s.

5th February
Y returns to work at 1800 hrs for second night and with LFf bars on uniform.
T/ADO is on duty and informs Y that he will hear his grievance in the Officers Mess as soon as he is ready. T/ADO Saward is assisted by ADO Eric Smith who takes notes on his behalf. Y is accompanied by Ff M Gilbert.
T/ADO Saward states that the status quo is revoked and does not apply. He instructs Y to remove his LFf bars. Y removes the bars. Ultimately, T/ADO Saward tells Y that he is not prepared to accept the grounds of the grievance and his original decision stands. The grievance hearing is closed.
Y sends a fax to Suffolk FBU official Chris Hayward to report the denial of the status quo provision.
Y submits a memo to DO C Hodge to inform him that he is not satisfied with T/ADO Saward’s decision and wants to progress the grievance to the next stage.

6th February
Memorandum from T/ADO Saward to CFO re Y’s grievance.
? February
A short time after the grievance hearing on 5th February and after the production of notes by ADO E Smith T/ADO Saward asks the former to change his notes. ADO E Smith refuses to carry out the alterations sought by T/ADO Saward.

10th February
Memorandum from DO. C. Hodge to Y. Acknowledgement of 2nd stage grievance and notification of hearing

12th February.

15th February
Memorandum from DO. C. Hodge to Y. Outcome of grievance hearing 12th February.

20th February
Y informs CFO that he wishes grievance to proceed to next stage.

22nd February
CFO acknowledges Y’s request for grievance to proceed to next stage.

27th February
Y writes to ACFO K Seager with regard to discovery and disclosure of documents in SubO X disciplinary prosecution.

28th February
Y informs the CFO that he has failed to adhere to the 7-day rule stipulated for dealing with grievances. Y insists that the grievance should automatically proceed to the next stage.