News

SitRep 26/2025

August 14, 2025

IRC AWARD ARBITRATION DECISION

This morning the IRC handed down its decision in our Award Arbitration for all three Awards after five months of deliberation.

Respect, Protect, Value your firefighters was the message members took the NSW Government. Our Log of Claims, delivered to the employer in 2023, took steps to address the persistent wage stagnation endured by FBEU members under the previous Liberal Government. Today, those circumstances were acknowledged by the IRC in a decision that will see wage rates and wage-related allowances increased by 14% over three years, distributed as follows:

• 4% effective 26 February 2024 (being a further 1% on top of the interim 3% delivered in 2024;
• 4% effective 26 February 2025; and
• 6% effective 26 February 2026 (3% of which is an increase to recognise competency in RCR work)

That is on top of a 1% increase in statutory superannuation contributions.
The 3% RCR component of the February 2026 increase is in recognition that the current composite rate of pay for the base grade of firefighter does not reflect the fact that every firefighter needs to have the basic rescue competencies to perform RCR work. The IRC decision grants a 3%increase in wages across the board payable for all purposes which includes during leave, overtime, for superannuation purposes, and will have a compounding effect on wages. 

As the RCR component is being granted as an increase for all firefighters, the current Rescue Operator allowance will be known as only as a GLR allowance from 26 February 2026. This is in recognition that GLR rescue is a skill and qualification over and above the RCR competency. This allowance will be half of the current Rescue Operator Allowance but can be increased in line with new allowances granted by the IRC for:

• In Water Flood Rescue
• Vertical Rescue
• USAR
• Trench
• Partial Structural Collapse
• Large Animal Rescue

It is important to note that this will not result in an overall net reduction in entitlements to members. In fact, all members will still see an ultimate increase, particularly taking into account the adjustment to wages to recognise the core rescue function of our role.

The decision also provides for the following:

• New allowances to recognise RPAS
• The expansion of Hazmat and Major/Minor Aerial allowances
• New On-Call and Disturbance Allowances
• Improved Deployment and Travel allowances for and firefighters who travel in their private vehicle to a work event where public transport is not reasonably available or practicable.
• The consultation structure set out in Schedule 5 of the Permanent and Retained Awards are to be maintained and are now entrenched in our Award.
• Increase the minimum payment for Retained Firefighters from 1 hour to 1.5 hours.
• Introduction of an ex gratia payment where a retained firefighter has accepted a deployment offer and that deployment is cancelled, delayed, or altered with less than 48 hours’ notice.
• Cultural and ceremonial leave to be introduced.
• Entitlement to overtime pay at single time is to be introduced for Superintendents and Chief Superintendents for hours worked outside the ordinary span of hours which they are directed or required to work due to an incident or emergency.

In addition, the IRC has made recommendations concerning the appropriate work value and relativities for firefighter positions, particularly the relative work value of non-station-based roles and senior officer roles; feedback for unsuccessful candidates for promotion; the provision of galateas for retained firefighters; and the performance of ComSafe duties by permanent firefighters.

AWARD NEXT STEPS

‘The work of firefighters is currently significantly undervalued, due to historic or intrinsic factors..’, the Commission has said. Their decision, which moves members beyond the 9% wages offer from the NSW Government, will begin to turn these circumstances around. Importantly, the decision also provides a framework for the FBEU to continue to progress improvements to wages and conditions into the future. 

The decision is lengthy, relative to our complex and ambitious claims. As such, FBEU officials and staff are diligently reviewing the decision in whole, in preparation for a further, more detailed, analysis to be provided in due course.
In the meantime, I want to acknowledge your work and participation in this campaign, particularly those whose provided evidence during hearings. Your actions contributed directly to this decision which provides plenty to celebrate and to build upon.

A copy of the decision can be found here.

In Unity,

Leighton Drury
State Secretary

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