The Union has become aware of a Memorandum from the Deputy Manager Operational Personnel, dated 8 April 1998, concerning Leading Firefighters acting up to Station Officer. The following part of that Memorandum is WRONG:
“There is no limit to the number of times that a Leading Firefighter can act-up to the rank of Station Officer in any 12 month period if he/she chooses to do so “
Members are reminded that the Union’s policy, as determined by a Special General Meeting of members in February 1996, is that no Leading Firefighter shall act-up to Station Officer for more than 8 shifts or part thereof per year. The actual resolution is as follows:
“ That no Leading Firefighter member shall act-up to Station Officer more than 8 shifts or part thereof per year, irrespective of whether or not such member may or may not be genuinely spare, given the Department’s inability to manage the acting-up of members equitably and the inherent delays to members achieving promotion to Station Officer rank. Further, this meeting calls on the Department to promote additional members to Station Officer rank in order to achieve the obviously required increase in Relieving Officer staff numbers “
Members should appreciate that a strictly enforced limit on acting-up is to their ultimate advantage. If no limit is imposed and enforced, then there would never be a need for the Department to promote new Station Officer’s, instead having available an unlimited pool of cut rate part-time Station Officers ( LF’s ) who revert to being paid firefighter’s wages when not required.
ACCORDINGLY, MEMBERS ARE AGAIN REMINDED THAT NO LEADING FIREFIGHTER IS TO ACT-UP TO STATION OFFICER MORE THAN EIGHT SHIFTS, OR PART THEREOF, PER YEAR. THIS MEANS THAT THERE IS NO SCOPE FOR MEMBERS TO VOLUNTARILY ACT-UP BEYOND THE EIGHT ACT-UP LIMIT. THIS INSTRUCTION IS TO OPERATE IN CONJUNCTION WITH, NOT REPLACE, PREVIOUS LIMITATIONS ( SEE “RED MESSAGES” IN THE UNIONS SUMMER 97/98 AND AUTUMN 1998 JOURNALS ).
