The SFE - Doc 57 Stradbroke Fire Station
Training Department Chat 4th June 1998
The training department office at Lowestoft was full to bursting point with brigade instructors just after 0900 hrs and in the run up to the start of the days course work.
The main talking point was Wiggys letter of which most of the department instructors had been made aware of prior to their attendance in office that day. It would appear that the general content of the letter had spread like wildfire throughout the brigade.
Most of the instructors wanted to view the letter and read its contents. Opinions of it were varied from genuine concern to hilarity. The latter being mainly cultivated by Sub Officer Peter Raven who found the matter fertile ground for numerous quips and jokes.
Near miss # 294 was reported by Sub Officer Wigglesworth at approximately 1330 hrs on 4th June 1998. Its transmission to Suffolk Fire Service BHQ was made by telephone. This precipitated a flurry of activity during the rest of the afternoon as the instruction delivered by Essex Station Officer Trevor ???? progressed. Station Officer Jim and Sub officer Kieron Davey were repeatedly approached inside the classroom by Lowestoft Station personnel to attend to the telphone calls of Divisional Officer Graham Smith.
The subject matter of the letter continued to be the key matter for discussion when all the department instructors took afternoon tea-break. Predictably the rest of the personnel, operational and fire safety, also put their two-penny worth into discussion melting pot. To this was added the views of Trevor the Station officer from Essex. In words to the effect he said, ‘if this had happened in Essex I guarantee you the union would have put the brigade in a dispute by now!’
As far as the Training Department at Lowestoft was concerned it was a quiet day. There were no courses taking place and the office was quite with only three staff members present, Station Officer Jim Parsons, Sub Officer’s Chris Wallis and Tony Wigglesworth. So for the most part the office was engaged in paper shuffling and routine matters. The exception to this being Jim Parsons who was preparing for the course taking place the next day, Thursday 4th June 1998. Interestingly, that was specifically for Suffolk’s training instructors and concerned with acquiring the skills required to safely operate the recently purchased backdraft/flashover simulators. For this purpose the brigade had hired the services of an instructor from Essex Fire and Rescue Service’s training department. The Essex instructor was coming to Lowestoft to give his presentation. So with that in the immediate offing Station Officer Jim was quite content to potter about making the necessary preparations.
At 1300hrs Sub Officer Wigglesworth got on his bike and trundled off home for a spot of lunch. Seems he had been informed by his partner, that there was brown envelope marked up with Suffolk Fire Service waiting for him. Having been previously told by Station Officer Jim that the brigade were sending him a warning letter, with regard to the accident 1st May 1998, it was assumed that this was the missive. It was in fact Doc 49 and a notification of a stoppage of pay on decree of DCFO Simon Smith. In consequence, the letter caused distress to the recipient who perceived it to be symbolic of bullying and harassment on the part of DCFO Simon Smith. It was also immediately recognised to be unlawful.
On returning to work after the lunch break Sub officer took the letter (Doc 49) with him. In mentioning it to Station Officer Jim, Sub Officer Wigglesworth said words to the effect, “Jim I think I have received the letter you were on about the other week. Its says my pay is to be deducted.’ On hearing this Station seemed to give the appearance of physically shrinking and wanting to be less conspicuous. Not being able to pull off the invisible man act off he exhaled a depressed grunt like noise.
As for Chris Wallis he was in the middle of the office and between Station Officer Jim and Sub Officer Wiggy. However, at this stage he appeared to be stirred by curiosity and asked what was in the letter. Without further ado that was the cue for Wiggy to pull the offensive missive from his pocket and start to spew out the full contents to the two piece audience. Seems that Station Officer Jim was by now very uncomfortable and orange peely with embarrassment.
Finishing off the letter Chris Wallis commented that, ‘I don’t think they can do that (interfere with wages) without your permission.’
‘Yeah your right its an unlawful act.’ said Wiggy. ‘Not only that I also consider it to be an act of bullying and harassment that is designed to cause me harm.’ Chris Wallis seemed to agree, ‘yeah not completely sure but I think your right.’
‘Right, I know I am bloodly well right as does any spotty faced teenager who has a Law O level, said Wiggy. ‘You might remember that last year we were told to put such harassment attacks down on a near miss.’
Station Officer Jim remained silent while Chris Wallis just gave a hmmm.
By now Station Officer Jim had had enough of the mounting controversy. As fast as Rat down a sewer pipe he scurried off to the outside classroom on the other side of the Station. Never to be seen again on that day. Well not until five minutes to five when it was wash hands time. In fact, not even at mid afternoon tea break did he show his face. Must have been a problem?
As for Chris Wallis he was in and out of the office that afternoon and the letter (Doc 49) was the basis of further discussion in the office and on the telephone between other parties.
The letter also suggested that if Wiggy was dis-satisfied with the stated intention he should contact Miss Sarah Davies. And he did.
Shortly after 1400 hrs Wiggy rang Miss Davies at Brigade Headquarters in Ipswich. The telephone was answered by one of Miss Davies assistants who stated that she was not available as she was carrying out Personal Development Interviews. Nevertheless, the assistant said that the message would be passed on and that Miss Davies would get back in touch.
It was close to 1700 hrs when Miss Davies eventually returned Wiggy’s call. Indeed, in perfect coincidence with Station Officer Jim’s late afternoon return to the training office.
Tersely Miss Davies asked what was the nature of Wiggy’s call earlier that afternoon, what is it you want to speak to me about?’
‘Its about the unlawful deduction that you and the DCFO have threatened’ replied Wiggy.
That blunt phrase had an immediate and ugly effect on Miss Davies who vehemently in opposition to the stark logic of Wiggy’s proposition.
‘Our action is not unlawful, who do you think you are to make such judgements against me and the DCFO.’ ‘That is absurd and it is extremely rude of you to make such ridiculous claims.’ ‘ Its your own fault, you told Paul Hayden your sickness was due to the injury on 1st May, so you have got what was coming to you.’ How dare you say the deduction is unlawful etc etc etc’
When Miss Davies have calmed down from her high pitched rebuttals Wiggy asked, can I come down to HQ to look at the medical evidence used to support your action?’
‘There is no medical evidence, we don’t need it to reduce your wage. We have done it on the medical evidence you told Paul Hayden.’
A near speechless Wiggy yowled ‘What!’ you must have a medical report to use paragraph five.
‘No we don’t’ said Miss Davies.
‘Sorry but I think you will find you are wrong again said Wiggy. With the emphasis on your “wrong again” it was sure enough sufficient to send Miss Davies into another strop and tirade of cutting insults as to Wiggy’s general level of intelligence.
When Miss Davies calmed down Wiggy informed Miss Davies that it was clear the actions notified by her on behalf of DCFO Smith constituted bullying and harassment and that he would submit a grievance and near miss report.
Miss Davies finished the conversation by saying that he could do what he wanted but that the deduction would go ahead whatever.
The training department office at Lowestoft was full to bursting point with brigade instructors just after 0900 hrs and in the run up to the start of the days course work.
The main talking point was Wiggys letter of which most of the department instructors had been made aware of prior to their attendance in office that day. It would appear that the general content of the letter had spread like wildfire throughout the brigade.
Most of the instructors wanted to view the letter and read its contents. Opinions of it were varied from genuine concern to hilarity. The latter being mainly cultivated by Sub Officer Peter Raven who found the matter fertile ground for numerous quips and jokes.
Near miss # 294 was reported by Sub Officer Wigglesworth at approximately 1330 hrs on 4th June 1998. Its transmission to Suffolk Fire Service BHQ was made by telephone. This precipitated a flurry of activity during the rest of the afternoon as the instruction delivered by Essex Station Officer Trevor ???? progressed. Station Officer Jim and Sub officer Kieron Davey were repeatedly approached inside the classroom by Lowestoft Station personnel to attend to the telphone calls of Divisional Officer Graham Smith.
The subject matter of the letter continued to be the key matter for discussion when all the department instructors took afternoon tea-break. Predictably the rest of the personnel, operational and fire safety, also put their two-penny worth into discussion melting pot. To this was added the views of Trevor the Station officer from Essex. In words to the effect he said, ‘if this had happened in Essex I guarantee you the union would have put the brigade in a dispute by now!’
As far as the Training Department at Lowestoft was concerned it was a quiet day. There were no courses taking place and the office was quite with only three staff members present, Station Officer Jim Parsons, Sub Officer’s Chris Wallis and Tony Wigglesworth. So for the most part the office was engaged in paper shuffling and routine matters. The exception to this being Jim Parsons who was preparing for the course taking place the next day, Thursday 4th June 1998. Interestingly, that was specifically for Suffolk’s training instructors and concerned with acquiring the skills required to safely operate the recently purchased backdraft/flashover simulators. For this purpose the brigade had hired the services of an instructor from Essex Fire and Rescue Service’s training department. The Essex instructor was coming to Lowestoft to give his presentation. So with that in the immediate offing Station Officer Jim was quite content to potter about making the necessary preparations.
At 1300hrs Sub Officer Wigglesworth got on his bike and trundled off home for a spot of lunch. Seems he had been informed by his partner, that there was brown envelope marked up with Suffolk Fire Service waiting for him. Having been previously told by Station Officer Jim that the brigade were sending him a warning letter, with regard to the accident 1st May 1998, it was assumed that this was the missive. It was in fact Doc 49 and a notification of a stoppage of pay on decree of DCFO Simon Smith. In consequence, the letter caused distress to the recipient who perceived it to be symbolic of bullying and harassment on the part of DCFO Simon Smith. It was also immediately recognised to be unlawful.
On returning to work after the lunch break Sub officer took the letter (Doc 49) with him. In mentioning it to Station Officer Jim, Sub Officer Wigglesworth said words to the effect, “Jim I think I have received the letter you were on about the other week. Its says my pay is to be deducted.’ On hearing this Station seemed to give the appearance of physically shrinking and wanting to be less conspicuous. Not being able to pull off the invisible man act off he exhaled a depressed grunt like noise.
As for Chris Wallis he was in the middle of the office and between Station Officer Jim and Sub Officer Wiggy. However, at this stage he appeared to be stirred by curiosity and asked what was in the letter. Without further ado that was the cue for Wiggy to pull the offensive missive from his pocket and start to spew out the full contents to the two piece audience. Seems that Station Officer Jim was by now very uncomfortable and orange peely with embarrassment.
Finishing off the letter Chris Wallis commented that, ‘I don’t think they can do that (interfere with wages) without your permission.’
‘Yeah your right its an unlawful act.’ said Wiggy. ‘Not only that I also consider it to be an act of bullying and harassment that is designed to cause me harm.’ Chris Wallis seemed to agree, ‘yeah not completely sure but I think your right.’
‘Right, I know I am bloodly well right as does any spotty faced teenager who has a Law O level, said Wiggy. ‘You might remember that last year we were told to put such harassment attacks down on a near miss.’
Station Officer Jim remained silent while Chris Wallis just gave a hmmm.
By now Station Officer Jim had had enough of the mounting controversy. As fast as Rat down a sewer pipe he scurried off to the outside classroom on the other side of the Station. Never to be seen again on that day. Well not until five minutes to five when it was wash hands time. In fact, not even at mid afternoon tea break did he show his face. Must have been a problem?
As for Chris Wallis he was in and out of the office that afternoon and the letter (Doc 49) was the basis of further discussion in the office and on the telephone between other parties.
The letter also suggested that if Wiggy was dis-satisfied with the stated intention he should contact Miss Sarah Davies. And he did.
Shortly after 1400 hrs Wiggy rang Miss Davies at Brigade Headquarters in Ipswich. The telephone was answered by one of Miss Davies assistants who stated that she was not available as she was carrying out Personal Development Interviews. Nevertheless, the assistant said that the message would be passed on and that Miss Davies would get back in touch.
It was close to 1700 hrs when Miss Davies eventually returned Wiggy’s call. Indeed, in perfect coincidence with Station Officer Jim’s late afternoon return to the training office.
Tersely Miss Davies asked what was the nature of Wiggy’s call earlier that afternoon, what is it you want to speak to me about?’
‘Its about the unlawful deduction that you and the DCFO have threatened’ replied Wiggy.
That blunt phrase had an immediate and ugly effect on Miss Davies who vehemently in opposition to the stark logic of Wiggy’s proposition.
‘Our action is not unlawful, who do you think you are to make such judgements against me and the DCFO.’ ‘That is absurd and it is extremely rude of you to make such ridiculous claims.’ ‘ Its your own fault, you told Paul Hayden your sickness was due to the injury on 1st May, so you have got what was coming to you.’ How dare you say the deduction is unlawful etc etc etc’
When Miss Davies have calmed down from her high pitched rebuttals Wiggy asked, can I come down to HQ to look at the medical evidence used to support your action?’
‘There is no medical evidence, we don’t need it to reduce your wage. We have done it on the medical evidence you told Paul Hayden.’
A near speechless Wiggy yowled ‘What!’ you must have a medical report to use paragraph five.
‘No we don’t’ said Miss Davies.
‘Sorry but I think you will find you are wrong again said Wiggy. With the emphasis on your “wrong again” it was sure enough sufficient to send Miss Davies into another strop and tirade of cutting insults as to Wiggy’s general level of intelligence.
When Miss Davies calmed down Wiggy informed Miss Davies that it was clear the actions notified by her on behalf of DCFO Smith constituted bullying and harassment and that he would submit a grievance and near miss report.
Miss Davies finished the conversation by saying that he could do what he wanted but that the deduction would go ahead whatever.
posted by Bert Blythburgh at 11:02 AM
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