News

1999 AGM Agenda

December 3, 1999

Trades Hall Auditorium,
Goulburn Street, Sydney
1000 hours (day section)
and 1900 hours (night section)

AGENDA

• APOLOGIES
• ADOPTION OF 1998 AGM MINUTES
• STATE SECRETARY’S ANNUAL REPORT (including full dispute update)
• BUSINESS ARISING FROM SECRETARY’S REPORT
• QUESTIONS ON NOTICE

1. D&D Dispute – Application of Union bans over Xmas/New Year period

That the Union’s relieving bans (only) be relaxed for the period commencing 1800 hours on Friday 24th December 1999 and concluding 0800 hours on Monday 27th December 1999, provided that relieving members shall only be able to be moved over this period if there are no off-duty members available for and willing to perform recalls and further, that any relieving member who has been moved over this period as a result of this decision is to return to and remain at their base station by 0800 hours, 27/12/99.

State Committee of Management recommendation: SUPPORT

2. Permanent Award – Adoption of proposed Union claim

That the application for a new Crown Employees’ (NSW Fire Brigades Firefighting Staff) Award, 1999, otherwise known as the permanents’ Award, which has been developed and proposed by the State Committee of Management and posted to the Union’s website since 28 October 1999, be adopted as the Union’s claim and further, that the elected officials of the State Committee of Management be authorised to negotiate and if necessary, amend that claim during the course of those negotiations provided that any such amendments so made are to be highlighted and brought to the attention of the rank and file at the General Meeting which will be held in due course to allow members to endorse the finally negotiated Award.

State Committee of Management recommendation: SUPPORT

3. Endorsement of Transfer Registers and Proposed Transfer Arbiter

That this meeting reaffirms its support for the continuation of the existing system for transfers of permanent members to Zones/locations outside of the GSA by way of transfer registers pursuant to Clause 28 of the Award, and does so on the basis that this system is considered to be the most fair, equitable and objective method presently available for determining members to be transferred to such locations. However, this meeting also acknowledges that the administration, operation and integrity of the system as it presently operates has on occasion been the source of friction between members and the employer, and between members and other members, and so determines its in-principle support for the introduction of an independent arbiter, agreed to between the Union and the Department, who will be responsible for the operation and integrity of each of the transfer registers, making recommendations as to the possible improvement of the system generally, and for ruling upon any appeals which might arise concerning the existing or proposed positioning of members on the said transfer registers.

State Committee of Management recommendation: SUPPORT

4. Special Duties, and Discrimination against Light Duties members

That the negotiations for Operational Support (otherwise known as ‘Special Duties’) positions, which are provided for under Clause 5.2.3 of both the existing the proposed Awards and which it is intended will allow for the grading and remuneration of members on a position by position job evaluation system rather than the existing rank system be either:
a) finalised, adopted and introduced; or
b) rejected outright
at a Special General Meeting of members to be held within three months of the making of the permanent members’ Award.
In resolving this way, this meeting recognises that this proposal cannot be properly considered, and therefore finalised, prior to the finalisation of the death and disability dispute given the uncertainty over the future of ‘light duties’ members under as a result of issues. However, in the event that the Operational Support classification system is rejected then a further Special General Meeting of members is to be convened as soon as practicable following that rejection in order to consider and adopt an alternative proposal for the remuneration of members in specialist areas on the existing rank plus allowance basis. Further and finally, that the long-unresolved question of discrimination of the employer against permanent light duties members by:
I. denying all of those members access to further progression and promotion through the rank structure; and
II. denying many of those members the right to apply for and hold substantive, as opposed to supernumerary positions;
is to be pursued and resolved by the Union administration as a matter of priority.

State Committee of Management recommendation: SUPPORT

5. Rescission of Union Policy exempting Rescue members from industrial action

That the General Meeting decision of 25 September 1999 that:

‘The New South Wales Fire Brigade Employees’ Union agree that should rescue providers who are members of that Union become involved in any industrial disputation whether directly or indirectly, the dispute settlement procedure incorporated in the Award will be strictly adhered to. Furthermore, the elected officials and members agree that staff attached to rescue units will remain on duty notwithstanding industrial action’

be rescinded. In resolving this way, this Annual General Meeting of members notes that this rescission does not in any way require that members who are rescue providers must be included in any future withdrawal of members’ labour, and therefore records its intention that where stop work or strike action occurs in future then, having regard to the level of industrial disputation at that time, the provision of primary rescue services should, as far as possible, be maintained.

 

State Committee of Management recommendation: SUPPORT

6. Salary Sacrifice for Motor Vehicles, Computers, etc.

That the correspondence received from various members over the preceding year seeking the extension to our membership of salary sacrifice arrangements for motor vehicles and computers (etc.) which are now operating elsewhere amongst the NSW public sector workforce be received and noted, and that the State Committee of Management be charged with investigating this matter and conferring with other public sector unions prior to reporting back to a subsequent General Meeting of members.

State Committee of Management recommendation: SUPPORT

7. 7 (a) Honoraria – President

That in accordance with Rule 18(7), this meeting endorses the payment of the President’s annual honorarium of $7400 for the 12 month period from the 1998 AGM, as adjusted by 3% firefighter wage movements over that time.

State Committee of Management recommendation: SUPPORT

7 (b) Honoraria – Returning Officer

That in accordance with Rule 22(7), this meeting endorses the payment of the Returning Officer’s annual honorarium of $276 for the 12 month period from the 1998 AGM, as adjusted by 3% firefighter wage movements over that time.

State Committee of Management recommendation: SUPPORT

7 (c) Appointment of Returning Officer

That in accordance with Rule 22(1), this meeting re-appoints Comrade D. Honan as Returning Officer for the ensuing 12 months through until the Union’s 2000 Annual General Meeting.

State Committee of Management recommendation: SUPPORT

MEETING ADJOURN/CLOSE
Chris Read
State Secretary