News

Union bans to commence 1 April 2000

March 31, 2000

Union Instruction to ALL Members

INDUSTRIAL ACTION TO
RECOMMENCE
FROM 0800 HOURS
SATURDAY 1/4/2000

Special General Meetings of members held this week which concluded tonight have voted overwhelmingly to reimpose industrial bans following the collapse of negotiations for new permanent and retained Awards.

The Union agreed to lift our bans on December 15 in return for a commitment from the Government that our Awards would be finalised by 24 February. Not only has that date come and gone, but as late as today the Department was still reeling out new hit lists for the negotiations, including the closure of fire stations and retained firefighter redundancies.

A decision was taken by members at this week’s meetings to convene further Meetings of members around the state this coming Thursday 6 April to consider the start of strike action if an agreement has not been reached with the Government by that time.

All members are hereby instructed to observe all industrial bans and limitations which are set out below from 0800 hours tomorrow, Saturday 1 April 2000. This instruction shall remain in force until further Union notice.

The dispute will now return to the NSW Industrial Relations Commission, 50 Phillip St Sydney at 10am this coming Monday, 3 April.

Chris Read
State Secretary
Friday 31 March, 2000

INDUSTRIAL BANS AND LIMITATIONS
TO APPLY FROM 0800 HRS, 1/4/00

Operational firefighters (permanent)

No paperwork or administrative duties are to be undertaken (including fire permits and fire reports) other than firefighter pay/leave related matters.

All members attached to workplaces within the GSA, Zones N3, N7 and S3 shall observe bans on all out-duties, stand-bys and relieving. All members within these Zones are to immediately return to their base station (note: members currently performing country relief work are to remain in place).

All staff absences are to be reported in the first instance to the on shift Inspector in the zone to which the member is attached. All necessary recalls are to be organised by the Inspector from that zone or, if necessary, delegated to Station Officers attached to stations where such shortages occur.

Safe minimum staffing is to continue to be maintained at all times.

No schools, drills, lock-outs, or station work other than that necessary to maintain station hygiene.

No charges are to be levied where they apply to AFA systems or HAZMAT operations.

ComSafe activities are to continue, but no charges are to be levied nor are any details to be recorded.

No participation in any hazardous training, other than Recruit Training.

Region (District) Trucks banned other than for transport of firefighting equipment (excluding PPE), and time sheets. Trucks are still to be staffed by one ff/platoon;

No motor movements or transfer of SEV’s, aerial appliances etc.
Operational firefighters (retained)

No paperwork or administrative duties are to be undertaken (including fire permits) other than firefighter pay/leave related matters and fire reports, but only at sections A3, A4, A6, A8, A14, A15, A16, A17 and A23;

No schools, drills, lock-outs, or station work other than that necessary to maintain station hygiene. Retained members are still to attend but not participate in regular station drills.

No participation in any hazardous training except for recruit training.

No motor movements or transfer of SEV’s
Executive Officers

No processing of Ministerials;

No attending Station Openings or similar Brigades’ functions;

No conducting Disciplinary Inquiries;

No participation in Personal Development Plans;

No preparation of Business Plans;

No participation as a Committee member in Staff Selection Interviews;

No work on any Service Level Agreements;

No work on Mutual Aid Agreements or other inter-agency activities (excluding District Bushfire Management Committees in own area).
Members seeking clarification on the application of these bans should contact their Station Delegate, State Committee official, on-shift officials or the Union office.