News

Sydney South Sub-branch: Relieving outside of your fire district

September 26, 2006

REQUIREMENTS FOR RELIEVING FIREFIGHTERS AND OUTDUTIES –  WORKING OUTSIDE OF YOUR FIRE DISTRICT

It has been brought to the Union’s attention that there may be some confusion regarding the Award requirements for Relieving Firefighters and those Firefighters performing outduties, specifically when asked to perform a relief/outduty outside of the GSA.

The relevant sections of our Award are Clauses 12.4 & 12.5 and these state:

12.4 Except in the case of Inspectors and for relief duties performed outside the GSA, Newcastle, Gosford, Wyong and Wollongong Fire Districts, Relieving Employees (or other employees pursuant to 12.1.2) cannot be directed to perform relief duty outside the Fire District to which they are attached.

12.5 Notwithstanding the provisions of 12.4, any employee may elect to perform relief duty outside the Fire District to which they are attached.

Simply put, a Firefighter may elect to perform an outduty or relief outside of their fire district but can not be required to do so.

A Firefighter who chooses to perform a relief/outduty outside of their fire district is acting within their award entitlements and this decision should be respected by other members.

This position is consistent with the Award and is supported by the other Sub-Branch Secretaries.

Yours in unity,

Jeremy Fewtrell

Sydney South Sub-Branch – Secretary