|
We can't just sack the straight staff, says critic A LEADING Calderdale councillor has found himself at the centre of a gay- rights row after claiming West Yorkshire fire chiefs spend too much time discussing equality issues.
 Roger Taylor (Con, Nothowram and Shelf) made the claim on the same day the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority was named national Equality Champ-ion by gay-rights group Stonewall.
Gay-rights groups and union officials have branded Coun Taylor's views outdated.
Coun Taylor, who represents Calderdale on the authority, said: "The authority spends an inordinate amount of time discussing equality, because by law it has to.
"It comes up every single time. It is more to do with ethnic groups, women and targets, which I don't agree with.
"We should have anti-discrimination policies and carry them through – not set targets."
Coun Taylor said meeting quotas would mean sacking staff.
He said: "We are trying to follow the law and comply with the law.
"It is very difficult when we have many staff who have been there for years and you can't just sack them and replace them with someone of a different sexual orientation." He added: "It is discussed and debated but you can't exactly, without sacking people, do a great deal but set down policy and follow guidelines.
"I don't really agree with the policy."
The Fire Brigades Union has strongly criticised the councillor's comments.
Spokesman Kieran Armstrong said: "I think he is wrong. We don't spend too much time on it. How could we? We spend the amount of time that is needed."
He added: "I think the targets are correct.
"If we are truly going to reflect society we have got to make a huge effort to reach these targets.
"If we are to truly represent what society is like out there, there are gays and lesbians, women, black, white and ethnic minority people.
"We are no longer the male-dominated workforce we used to be and neither should we be."
The debate began as the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority was praised for its commitment to equality for homosexual staff.
Gay-rights group Stonewall carried out a diversity survey in fire services across the UK and gave the county top spot, along with London.
Acting deputy chief fire officer Allan Hughes said: "In a service that suffers from an outdated image as an all-white, all-male preserve, it is tremendously important employers take matters like this seriously.
"Management will not tolerate discrimination, whether it is intentional or not."
A spokesman for Stonewall said equality was crucial in any work place.
"It benefits not only lesbian and gay staff but also the whole community that they serve.
"It is not about positive discrimination, it is more about good practice."
There are no specific targets for the number of homosexual staff employed by the fire authority, although it aims to create a welcoming and open environment for people of all sexualities, according to Equality and Diversity manager Maria Tonks.
The government has set a target for 15 per cent of staff to be women by next year and 11 per cent to be from a black, minority or ethnic background.
Both groups combined currently make up less than five per cent of the workforce.
Source: halifaxcourier.co.uk |
