News

All members of the Senior Officers Sub-Branch are advised that a Sub Branch Meeting will be held at 1200 hours on Friday 4 November 2011, as below:

Inside this issue: LSV dispute victory - but what's next? Plans to close Wollongong and Katoomba Comms Union medal approved, issue imminent Promotion to S/O Level 2 Retained Training: Phase 1 not to be phased out Sacking contagion crosses the border Exercise and mental health Mental Health event cancelled

Correspondence today between the Union and the Department has resulted in a breakthrough in the current dispute over the LSV Staffing arrangement. The staffing arrangements for the LSVs are to revert to the position agreed between the parties in February 2010 as a part of the settlement of the Waratah dispute.

The Department continues to pretend that it has the right to renege on its agreement on LSV staffing. Neither the Department nor the IRC hearing today has provided any answer to this critical question – with the result that the Union’s bans will continue until further notice. The Union cannot and will not accept that the Department can unilaterally walk away from agreements over safety, jobs and conditions.

MANAGEMENT RENEGES ON AGREEMENT, CLOSES FIRE STATIONS ACROSS THE STATE The union representing professional fire fighters is desperately trying to hold Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) to an existing agreement providing light duties positions for injured firefighters who are unable to perform operational duties. Fire Brigade Employees' Union (FBEU) NSW Secretary Jim Casey said FRNSW management seemed determined to force an industrial dispute, upping the ante overnight by closing 25 fire stations across the state rather than pay fire fighters overtime to keep them open.

Despite today's bans, and a hearing before VP Walton of the IRC, FRNSW management still refuses to respect the agreement between the Union and Department for the staffing of the LSVs. Consequently all bans remain in place. The parties are appearing before IRC Commissioner Ritchie in Newcastle at 1000 hours tomorrow, where the Department will make application for Dispute Orders against the Union. It is the Department that has bought on this dispute, and the Department that can end it. Our demand is eminently reasonable - simply that FRNSW management remain true to their word.

Dept walks away from LSV agreement When the Union settled the Waratah Fire Station dispute last year (see SITREP No. 8/2010 “Waratah dispute settled with new stations and extra jobs”), we did so with the clear intention of providing additional positions for alternate duties members. As SITREP 2010/8 reported, “The 6 LSV’s will in future be staffed by permanent members on suitable duties, thereby allowing injured members to stay on the 10/14 rather than working day shift in the Zone Office”.

Inside this issue: * Promoting good mental health * Resilience, what is it? * Mental Health Month Morning Tea

Further to the Annual General Meeting Agenda issued on 20 September, members are advised of the following Sub-Branch meeting times and arrangements for holding Country/Retained Sub-Branch meetings.