Charles Norman Greenfield
Encyclopedia
Charles Norman Greenfield (4 April 1907 – 17 September 1997) was a fireman
with the Manchester City Fire Brigade who precipitated a significant legal case in British trade union history, particularly regarding the Fire Brigades Union
(FBU).
Until 1938, the Manchester
Fire Brigade had been part of the Manchester City Police
and its members attested as police constable
s, a common practice in the early 20th century. In 1938 it became an independent organisation, but firemen who had joined before that time continued to be police constables and answerable to the Chief Constable
in disciplinary matters. The Chief Constable also continued officially to be the Director of the Fire Brigade.
The Barnsley
-born Greenfield was an experienced First Class Fireman who had been a member of the brigade for some years and was therefore an attested police constable. As such, he was not permitted to join the FBU or any other trade union. However, he took an interest in the welfare of his fellow firemen and particularly of the wartime members of the Auxiliary Fire Service
, whose conditions were often extremely poor. He was one of the four members of the board of representatives, the body which had replaced the Police Federation
in the fire brigade after 1938. He urged the AFS members to join the FBU, which, not being police officers, they were entitled to do. On 5 November 1940, Greenfield wrote to John Horner, General Secretary of the FBU, informing him of these conditions and enclosing 28 membership application forms from members of the AFS. However, Horner had recently moved and the letter was returned to sender on 9 November. Greenfield had listed his return address as "Fire Station, Manchester 10", his own station, but the letter was returned simply to "The Fire Station, Manchester" and delivered to headquarters.
On 19 November 1940, Greenfield was summoned before John Maxwell
, the Chief Constable of Manchester, and charged with three disciplinary offences: acting in a manner likely to bring discredit upon the force; unauthorised communication with a person not connected with the fire brigade; and divulging to that person fire brigade matters. Maxwell listened to his explanation of his conduct, and then dismissed him on the spot. Greenfield appealed, as was his right, to the Watch Committee, the police force's governing body. However, after making his appeal he was asked to leave the room while they deliberated; Maxwell was allowed to stay while the committee deliberated an appeal against his own decision. Unsurprisingly, the appeal was dismissed.
The FBU demanded the return of the letter and membership forms, but Maxwell refused. In response, the FBU took him to court, demanding the return of their property and damages for its wrongful detention. The case, described as "unique in legal history", was heard in Manchester County Court
on 26 February 1941 before Judge Thomas Bowes Leigh. Donald McIntyre appeared for the union and D. P. Dingle, Deputy Town Clerk of Manchester, for the Chief Constable. Dingle made much of the fact that Greenfield had headed his letter "Dear Comrade", implying that this showed communist sympathies.
The judge found in favour of the FBU. He ordered that the letter and forms be returned immediately and that the Chief Constable pay £5 damages for their detention. He also awarded costs against the Chief Constable on the highest possible scale.
Greenfield was invited to speak at the annual conference of the FBU in London later that year and was greeted with massive applause. After being dismissed he had obtained a position (and a promotion) as Fourth Officer with Barnsley Borough Fire Brigade. As this was a civilian brigade, he was entitled to join the FBU, and was later elected to the Executive Council.
The Greenfield case strengthened the rights to join a trade union and was one of the final nails in the coffin of the system of police-controlled fire brigades.
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
with the Manchester City Fire Brigade who precipitated a significant legal case in British trade union history, particularly regarding the Fire Brigades Union
Fire Brigades Union
The Fire Brigades Union is a trade union in the United Kingdom for wholetime Firefighters , Retained Duty System and Emergency Control Room staff...
(FBU).
Until 1938, the Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
Fire Brigade had been part of the Manchester City Police
Manchester City Police
The Manchester City Police was, from the early 19th century until 1968, the territorial police force of the city of Manchester, in northern England.Under the provisions of the Police Act 1964, Manchester City Police merged with the Salford City Police to create the...
and its members attested as police constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
s, a common practice in the early 20th century. In 1938 it became an independent organisation, but firemen who had joined before that time continued to be police constables and answerable to the Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
in disciplinary matters. The Chief Constable also continued officially to be the Director of the Fire Brigade.
The Barnsley
Barnsley
Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, south of Leeds and west of Doncaster. Barnsley is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, of which Barnsley is the largest and...
-born Greenfield was an experienced First Class Fireman who had been a member of the brigade for some years and was therefore an attested police constable. As such, he was not permitted to join the FBU or any other trade union. However, he took an interest in the welfare of his fellow firemen and particularly of the wartime members of the Auxiliary Fire Service
Auxiliary Fire Service
The Auxiliary Fire Service was first formed in 1938 in Great Britain as part of Civil Defence Air raid precautions. Its role was to supplement the work of brigades at local level. In this job it was hampered severely by the incompatibility of equipment used by these different brigades - most...
, whose conditions were often extremely poor. He was one of the four members of the board of representatives, the body which had replaced the Police Federation
Police Federation of England and Wales
The Police Federation of England and Wales is the representative body to which all police officers in England and Wales up to and including the rank of Chief Inspector belong. There are 141,000 members as of July 2009...
in the fire brigade after 1938. He urged the AFS members to join the FBU, which, not being police officers, they were entitled to do. On 5 November 1940, Greenfield wrote to John Horner, General Secretary of the FBU, informing him of these conditions and enclosing 28 membership application forms from members of the AFS. However, Horner had recently moved and the letter was returned to sender on 9 November. Greenfield had listed his return address as "Fire Station, Manchester 10", his own station, but the letter was returned simply to "The Fire Station, Manchester" and delivered to headquarters.
On 19 November 1940, Greenfield was summoned before John Maxwell
John Maxwell (police officer)
Sir John Maxwell CBE was a British police officer.Maxwell grew up in Muirkirk, Ayrshire. He joined the Manchester City Police in 1901 and served as Chief Constable from 1927 to November 1942...
, the Chief Constable of Manchester, and charged with three disciplinary offences: acting in a manner likely to bring discredit upon the force; unauthorised communication with a person not connected with the fire brigade; and divulging to that person fire brigade matters. Maxwell listened to his explanation of his conduct, and then dismissed him on the spot. Greenfield appealed, as was his right, to the Watch Committee, the police force's governing body. However, after making his appeal he was asked to leave the room while they deliberated; Maxwell was allowed to stay while the committee deliberated an appeal against his own decision. Unsurprisingly, the appeal was dismissed.
The FBU demanded the return of the letter and membership forms, but Maxwell refused. In response, the FBU took him to court, demanding the return of their property and damages for its wrongful detention. The case, described as "unique in legal history", was heard in Manchester County Court
County Court
A county court is a court based in or with a jurisdiction covering one or more counties, which are administrative divisions within a country, not to be confused with the medieval system of county courts held by the High Sheriff of each county.-England and Wales:County Court matters can be lodged...
on 26 February 1941 before Judge Thomas Bowes Leigh. Donald McIntyre appeared for the union and D. P. Dingle, Deputy Town Clerk of Manchester, for the Chief Constable. Dingle made much of the fact that Greenfield had headed his letter "Dear Comrade", implying that this showed communist sympathies.
The judge found in favour of the FBU. He ordered that the letter and forms be returned immediately and that the Chief Constable pay £5 damages for their detention. He also awarded costs against the Chief Constable on the highest possible scale.
Greenfield was invited to speak at the annual conference of the FBU in London later that year and was greeted with massive applause. After being dismissed he had obtained a position (and a promotion) as Fourth Officer with Barnsley Borough Fire Brigade. As this was a civilian brigade, he was entitled to join the FBU, and was later elected to the Executive Council.
The Greenfield case strengthened the rights to join a trade union and was one of the final nails in the coffin of the system of police-controlled fire brigades.