The term fireman or fireman 'will not be tolerated in' the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service because of its 'sexist' connotation.
In an email Chief Fire Officer Dave Russel said that the term fireman is one he has not heard for 15 yeras prior to joining GMFRS.
Snippets of the email seen by The Bolton News state: "Here it regularly slips into people’s everyday vocabulary, and it very often goes unnoticed and unchallenged because it’s just become ‘the way things are around here’.”
A senior Bolton councillor, who was a member of the Greater Manchester Fire Authority, has criticised the remarks, saying it is an example of 'wokeism gone mad".
The email stated: "But its connotation is sexist, exclusionary, and represents a form of micro-agression that is damaging to our culture.
"This needs to stop and the term permanently erased from our vocabulary.
"We employ firefighters, not 'firemen' and haven't for decades so why use the term.
"I am clear today that the use of this term will not be tolerated in GMFRS."
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Cllr Andy Morgan said: “He’s said ‘I will not tolerate the term fireman’. How petty is that?
“It’s ridiculous. It’s wokeism gone mad.
“I had the honour of being one of Bolton’s representatives on the GM Fire Authority for a number of years and I have to say I never witnessed any discrimination of any kind, and no one raised any concerns.
“That doesn’t mean it hasn’t or does not happen and any claim of discrimination for any reason should be investigated.
“I agree the term firefighter is better term now but to outlaw the term fireman and to suggest disciplinary action for anyone that says it out of habit, without any malice, is completely inappropriate.”
“The fire service has a long and outstanding history and that includes the term fireman.
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“Yes, the world moves on but you cannot erase the past.
“The fire service can be both proud of its history and also be proud of how it evolves and where it wants to be, they are not a contradiction.”
CFO Russel told The Bolton News: “As Chief Fire Officer I have set out a clear and positive mission to tackle negative behaviours and attitudes within Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, and to foster an inclusive environment that welcomes and respects all colleagues.
“The impact of this collective effort is already being recognised by organisations like Stonewall, which recently ranked GMFRS 50th in its Top 100 list for leading LGBTQ+ inclusive employers.
“Our Fire Plan for 2021-2025 outlines the steps we are taking to ensure that we develop and support a workforce that is more representative of the communities we serve.
“Like any organisation, it’s important for us to listen to our colleagues and empower them to speak out when they experience behaviours that don’t meet our vision of being a modern, resilient fire and rescue service.
“This helps us to identify and re-evaluate certain practices or habits that, while they may be commonplace, prop up outdated ideas about who we are and what we do.
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“One of the things that emerged from that process was a feeling that certain terms still in use were not consistent with that vision and had the effect of making colleagues feel excluded or overlooked.
“Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is proud to employ firefighters who come to work every day to serve our communities, and who stand shoulder-to-shoulder with one another in often challenging circumstances.
“There is no reason for us to use language that minimises or overlooks the vital role anyone plays within our service.
“The importance of achieving the right culture and behaviour cannot be overstated. It is one of the hardest factors to get right, but undoubtedly one of the most valuable. We’re making big improvements in GMFRS, and culture is at the heart of that.”
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