The final results of the members’ vote upon the three motions on notice at this week’s Special General Meeting were as follows:
“That all members of the New South Wales Fire Brigade Employees’ Union boycott all future Pre Entry Tests for the Station Officers Promotional Program, including its current selection format, until such time as an agreed system is developed by the NSW Fire Brigade Employees’ Union and the NSW Fire Brigades that is fair and equitable for all candidates and which provides the delivery of appropriate education and review necessary for promotion to the rank of Station Officer. Furthermore, that the 2003 Station Officers Promotional Program be immediately abolished and replaced with the format/selection criteria from the 1996 Station Officers examination, that guaranteed promotion to all candidates who achieved a pass mark of 65% or higher. That all candidates who achieved an overall mark of 65% or higher in both the 2002 and 2003 Station Officers Promotional Program Pre Entry Test be immediately placed on a Leading Firefighter list, as per the 1996 Station Officers examination, awaiting placement on the Station Officers Promotional Program in order of their current results.”
Declared LOST
(22 for, 170 against, 7 abstentions)
“That the membership concerns evident in the previous motion are noted, however this meeting does not support the banning or abolition of either the November Pre Entry test or the 2003 Station Officer Promotion Programmes. Further, this meeting recognises that the current systems of selection and promotion to Station Officer and Inspector ranks under Clause 13 of the Award should continue to be subject to review and refinement by the State Committee of Management through both the joint FBEU/NSWFB Training Review Committee and the forthcoming 2004 award negotiations.”
Declared CARRIED
(163 for, 26 against, 10 abstentions)
“In the interest of fulfilling obligations under the OH&S Act, and the NSW Fire Brigades Duty of Care to firefighters and the community, that the examination papers of all candidates who sat the 2002 and 2003 SOPP Pre Entry Assessment are returned to those candidates and that comprehensive reviews and information relevant to reaching the required entry standard be made available by the Professional Development Unit to each and every candidate on request.”
Declared CARRIED
(196 for, 1 against, 2 abstentions)
