The Retained Firefighters' Union (RFU) is a British trade union representing over 3,000 retained personnel within the Retained Duty System (RDS).[1][2]
The RFU was formed in 1976. It provides national and local representation, general support and advice on any issue relating to their fire service duties including primary employment.
The RFU is an independent trade union under the Trade Union & Labour Relations Act 1992. It has no political affiliation and therefore just under a third of the money[3] it raises from union subscriptions and funding received from the DTI & Asset Co,[4][5] a company which provides a fully outsourced fire and rescue service, are ploughed back into member services.
The union was founded in 1976 in response to the impending National Fire Strike in 1977. The RFU has a no-strike policy, preferring to use the power of argument rather than the argument of power to further the unions objectives.
1976 - 1997 Don Bates
1997 - 2007 Derek Chadbon
2007–present John Barton