Brierley Hill fire fighters get support from colleagues

3:16pm Tuesday 29th April 2008

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BLACK Country fire crews are fully supporting their two colleagues as they start their tribunal hearing after they were sacked over a spoof interview.

Watch Commander Mark Smith of 23 years service and temporary Crew Commander Lee Evans, of ten years service,both long standing employees- lost their jobs after playing a practical joke on a new recruit, which was recorded on camcorders.

Despite the new recruit not being offended and making no complaint and even asking for a copy of the DVD to show his friends and family, West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service management disciplined and sacked them for bullying and harassment.

After appealing the decision the men have taken their case to an Employment tribunal which began on Monday April 28 in Birmingham and is expected to last five days.

The hearing will deliberate on whether the officers based at Brierley Hill were unfairly dismissed.

In a consultative poll conducted by Electoral Reform Services on behalf of the Fire Brigade Union showed 98.8% believed Mark Smith and Lee Evans did not deserve to be dismissed and over a third felt they had insufficient knowledge and had received inadequate training to understand and comply with the Core Values of West Midlands Fire Service.

Rosemarie Jones, West Midlands FBU Brigade Secretary said: "This was a bit of harmless workplace humour which offended no-one, the sacking of Mark and Lee have caused outrage among their colleagues.

"There was no complaint from anyone involved and feel the whole episode has been blown out of all proportion by heavy-handed managers.

"If there had been a case of genuine bullying, harassment or victimisation we would not have taken this supportive stance that we have.

"The only victims here are two firefighters who have served their communities with distinction and pride for many years and have now been sacked.

"The only offence has been the outrage caused by the excessive punishment meted out and we believe both Mark and Lee should be re-instated."