News

2002 AGM details

December 5, 2002

Sydney – The Sydney AGM will be held at Trades Hall Auditorium, Goulburn Street Sydney, commencing at 9.00am on Thursday 12 December.

Newcastle – The Newcastle Sub-Branch meeting will be held at No. 260 Station, Newcastle commencing at 10.00am on Friday 6 December.

Central Coast – The Central Coast Sub-Branch meeting will be held at No. 340 Station, Umina commencing at 6.00pm on Friday 6 December.

Illawarra – The Illawarra Sub-Branch meeting will be held at No. 503 Station, Wollongong commencing at 6.00pm on Wednesday 11 December.

Country – Combined Country/Retained Sub-Branch meetings may be held locally at any Fire Station situated outside of the above areas prior to Thursday 12 December, provided that:
1) notice of intention to hold a local meeting has been given to the State Secretary by no later than 3pm Tuesday 10 December; and
2) a quorum of at least 7 financial Union members will be physically present for the duration of each meeting; and
3) the vote from each meeting is forwarded to the State Secretary prior to 9am Thursday December in order to be added to the total AGM vote.

AGENDA
Apologies
Adoption of 2001 AGM Minutes
State Secretary’s Annual Report (including an update on the D&D dispute)
Questions on Notice

1. From the Sydney South Sub-Branch re members’ appeal rights

“That in view of the operation of Section 20-21 of the G.R.E.A.T. Act, which all too frequently denies our members the ability to appeal against the employer’s merit selection appointments and/or promotions, the Union should pursue the amendment of that Act to the extent necessary to remove this jurisdictional hurdle. However, given that such amendment is unlikely to be successful then the Union should also commence negotiations with the Department with a view to establishing an alternative forum to G.R.E.A.T. which would ensure our members’ right to appeal against any and all Departmental appointments by merit. In resolving this way, this meeting reaffirms that it is essential for all merit appointments and/or promotions by the employer to be subject to the possibility of independent review in order for all members to have confidence in the merit selection system.”

State Committee of Management recommendation: SUPPORT

2. From the Newcastle and Illawarra Sub-Branches re Clause 28 Transfer Lists

“That subclause 28.3.4.1 of the permanent award, which currently reads
‘the first offer of transfer shall be made to the highest placed employee holding residential priority status’
should be deleted and replaced by a new subclause 28.3.4.1 to read
‘the first offer of transfer shall be made to the person holding residential priority for the longest period’.”

State Committee of Management recommendation: REJECT

3. From the Newcastle and Illawarra Sub-Branches re Clause 28 Transfer Lists

That subclause 28.4.6 of the permanent award, which currently reads
‘Employees may be required to provide evidence of their primary residence’
should be deleted and replaced by a new subclause 28.4.6 to read
‘Employees shall be required to provide evidence of their claim of primary residence prior to being placed on the Transfer Register’.”

State Committee of Management recommendation: SUPPORT

4. From the Senior Officers’ Sub-Branch re officers’ job re-evaluations

“That a comprehensive evaluation of the current work performed by Inspectors and Station Officers be carried out. The aim of this evaluation is to determine the monetary value that needs to be added to the new roles and responsibilities now undertaken by both ranks. Also following the evaluation, and the establishment of the added monetary value of these new roles and responsibilities that this evaluation be used as a benchmark for all future wage increases. Once established this benchmark is to be used in calculating all operational personnel pay increases. And further, that the current system of basing wage increases on the percentage of a Qualified Firefighter’s wage be dispensed with.”

State Committee of Management recommendation: NOTE

5. From the State Committee re solidarity with UK firefighters

“That this Annual General Meeting of members meeting expresses its solidarity with, and unequivocal support for our firefighter comrades in the United Kingdom in their increasingly bitter struggle for wage justice and trade union rights against the reactionary Blair ‘New Labour’ Government.”

State Committee of Management recommendation: SUPPORT

6. From the Union’s Registered Rules re Honoraria – President

“That in accordance with Rule 18(7), this meeting endorses the payment to the Union’s President of an annual honorarium of $1 for the 12 month period from the 2001 AGM.”

State Committee of Management recommendation: SUPPORT

7. From the Union’s Registered Rules re Honoraria – Returning Officer

“That in accordance with Rule 22(7), this meeting endorses the payment of the Returning Officer’s annual honorarium of $311 for the 12 month period from the 2001 AGM, as adjusted by 4% firefighter wage movements over that time.”

State Committee of Management recommendation: SUPPORT

8. From the Union’s Registered Rules re Appointment of Returning Officer

“That in accordance with Rule 22(1), this meeting re-appoints Comrade J. Casey as Returning Officer for the ensuing 12 months through until the Union’s 2002 Annual General Meeting.”

State Committee of Management recommendation: SUPPORT

9. From the Union’s Registered Rules re Appointment of Auditor

“That the accounting firm of A.J. Williams & Co. be re-appointed as the Union’s auditors for a further period of two years and until the 2004 Annual General meeting in accordance with Rule 40.”

State Committee of Management recommendation: SUPPORT

Meeting close