This week I visited affected flood areas and spent time with members on deployment, seeing first-hand the vital work we do across all incidents.
Reports on theground have raised serious concerns about the NSW SES’s capacity to provide effective leadership and coordination of these events. The FBEU has been clear with its messaging to the State Government this week: professional emergency services must be at the core of all responses to natural disasters. The lessons of past inquiries cannot be ignored.
We will have more to say on this matter soon. In the meantime, members on deployment are encouraged to check their pay slips to ensure are paid correctly in accordance with Award conditions.
‘COVER OUR FIRIES’ ACTION THIS SUNDAY
This Sunday, FRNSW is pushing ‘Smoke Alarm Awareness Day’ – an important message, but one that rings hollow in contrast to the current state of inadequate resourcing which continues to impact response capabilities.
According to FRNSW, on-shift events for the day are ‘voluntary’ but some sections of the membership are likely to experience a particular push.For crews involved in such events, the Union is encouraging you to take this opportunity to speak to the public about supporting ourCover Our Firiescampaign, demanding urgent updates to presumptive cancer legislation.
A summary of the campaign is below:
A firefighter risk of cancer is 3-5 times greater than the general population. We might look protected but even our uniforms can’t fully protect us from the toxins we are exposed to in our work. Presumptive cancer laws means that firefighters do not have to prove that firefighting is the cause of our cancer as this link has already been scientifically established. This makes it easier and speedier to access workers compensation when we get sick from our job.
Current NSW presumptive legislation provides covers some cancers but not all. We are currently not covered for a range of cancers including oesophageal, lung, skin, cervical, ovarian, penile, pancreatic, thyroid and uterine cancer along with malignant mesothelioma.
These laws need to be updated to properly cover NSW firefighters. This has already occurred in other jurisdictions including federal firefighters such as those who work at airports for example.
