News

D&D update – Agreement reached

May 31, 2002

Following almost 5 years of open disputation, in-principle agreement was today reached between the NSW Government and the FBEU’s officials for new death and disability arrangements for all (non-SSF) NSWFB firefighters. The joint statement which follows is an agreed summary of the negotiated outcome.

The Union’s State Committee of Management will now meet this Monday 3 June to consider and make a formal recommendation to members on this proposal. The SCOM’s recommendation will then be put to the Union’s members at a series of a Special General Meetings to be held during the course of next week, the details of which will be posted to this website and circulated to all members’ stations/workplaces by late Monday. All members are urged to make the effort to attend what will obviously be a critically important SGM.

Chris Read
State Secretary
Friday 31st May, 2002

[NSWFB / FBEU Joint Statement]

Death and Disability Update to all Firefighters

Over the past week the Death and Disability dispute has been the subject of proceedings and detailed discussions in the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW.

Today the parties reached agreement on a number of issues which, subject to acceptance by the Union’s membership will result in new death and disability benefits for firefighters. The agreement also includes the development and implementation of a comprehensive return to work and rehabilitation program and a health and fitness program for all firefighters.

The agreement applies to all firefighters, both permanent and retained who are covered by theState Authority Superannuation Scheme (SASS) and First State Superannuation Scheme (FSS). The new death and disability benefits will cover firefighters who are injured both on and off-duty.

Details of the death and disability benefits and contribution rates are summarised below:

Benefits

ON-DUTY

Permanent firefighters

Death
Lump sum equivalent to 60% of salary to age 65

Total and Permanent Incapacity (TPI)
Lump sum equivalent to 60% of salary to age 65

Partial and Permanent Incapacity (PPI)
Extensive rehabilitation/retraining program for up to 2 years, leading to re-deployment in alternative duties. If redeployment not possible, then exit from the Brigades on the basis of a lump sum payment based on salary multiplied by an age related factor.

Retained Firefighters

Death
Lump sum equivalent to 60% of “deemed” salary to age 65

Total and Permanent Incapacity (TPI)
Lump sum equivalent to 60% of “deemed” salary to age 65

Partial and Permanent Incapacity (PPI)
Exit from the Brigades on the basis of lump sum payment based on salary multiplied by an age related factor where the salary is determined by either of the following:

• where it was agreed that there was a loss of Brigades employment only, on the retained firefighter’s actual retained earnings; otherwise
• on the retained firefighter’s “deemed” annual salary

“Deemed” salary is factored on the Captains’ hourly rate multiplied by 2088 (currently $45,978).

OFF-DUTY

Permanent Firefighters

Death
$250,000 lump sum, provided that this benefit shall not exceed the benefit that would have been payable had the death occurred whilst the firefighter was on duty

Total and Permanent Incapacity (TPI)
$250,000 lump sum, provided that this benefit shall not exceed the benefit that would have been payable had the injury occurred whilst the firefighter was on duty

Partial and Permanent Incapacity (PPI)
Extensive rehabilitation/retraining program for up to 2 years, leading to re-deployment in alternative duties. If rehabilitation is terminated prior to 2 years, then the balance to be paid as a lump sum on exit. If re-deployment not possible at the end of 2 years, then exit from the Brigades without further benefit.

Retained firefighters

Death
$250,000 lump sum, provided that this benefit shall not exceed the benefit that would have been payable had the death occurred whilst the firefighter was on duty

Total and Permanent Incapacity (TPI)
$250,000 lump sum, provided that this benefit shall not exceed the benefit that would have been payable had the injury occurred whilst the firefighter was on duty

Partial and Permanent Incapacity (PPI)
Exit from the Brigades on the basis of lump sum payment equivalent to two years of that retained firefighter’s actual retained earnings.

Contribution rates

It was further agreed that the benefits would be funded through a combination of employer and employee contributions. Firefighters will be required to make the following contributions:

Permanent firefighters

FSS members – 1.5% of salary

SASS members – between 0.5% and 1.5% of salary, depending on insurance options exercised by individual SASS firefighters.

Retained firefighters

$300 per annum

Next Steps

The Union’s officers will recommend acceptance of the agreement to general meetings of FBEU members to be held in the coming fortnight.

The parties will now be working to develop and implement return to work and rehabilitation/retraining programs. The work will also include the development and implementation of an agreed health and fitness program.

This agreement will be reflected in an Award which will be lodged with the Industrial Relations Commission. Legislative changes will be required to give effect to the Award.

(Sgd) I D Mac Dougall AC AFSM
Commissioner
NSWFB

(Sgd) Chris Read
State Secretary
FBEU

31 May 2002