The new 2014 Permanent Firefighting Staff Award was formally made by IRC President, Justice Walton on Wednesday and takes effect on and from today. Most members are expected to notice little if any change for the foreseeable future, with the immediate impact as of today essentially being limited to the following changes:
Station Officers may now be directed to perform outduties with all of the same entitlements and restrictions that currently apply to firefighters (see Clause 4’s new “outduty” definition);
Station Officers Level 1 and Level 2 are now known simply as Station Officers, resulting in an immediate wage for former SOs Level 1 of $70.57 per week;
Firefighters Level 1 and Level 2 are now known simply as Firefighters (former FL2s will have their wages maintained until they progress to QF);
Members may now legally apply to work flexible and part-time hours, and up to 24 hours straight (ie, double shifts) subject to numerous important checks and protections secured by the Union (see subclauses 8.2.3, 8.2.4, 8.2.5, 8.6a and 8.11);
The payment of kms for members on Clause 28 transfer registers who perform recalls has changed (see subclauses 9.7.1 and 9.7.2) in order to make it feasible for GSA based members to perform overtime locally on their days off;
The “as soon as possible after two hours but no later than three hours” for the provision of refreshments has finally been be replaced (as it was earlier this year with the new Retained Award) by a universal requirement for the Department to provide refreshments after two hours, regardless of where the member is located (see subclause 10.1.2); and
Leading Firefighters are now eligible to apply for and be placed upon both Firefighter and Station Officer transfer registers (see subclauses 28.1.4 and 28.4.7).
And that’s about it. The main remaining changes concern progression and promotion, including the filling of LF and LSO positions and the acting-up that will follow, but these changes are expected to take several months yet to implement. Members are advised that late negotiations around the “notes” governing transitional agreements for LFs and Operational Support positions resulted in an amended, and improved, document. For a copy of these revised “notes” please click here.
Two year wage deal
Today’s new award concludes a 2 year wage deal that followed the expiration of the 2011 Award on 20 February this year. SITREP 22/2014 confirmed payment on 27 June of a 2.27% increase for all permanent members, backdated to 21 February, which was the first of two wage increases for this wage round.So there is no payrise today because we have already received the 2014 pay rise. The second, 2015 pay rise of 2.5% for all ranks except SF and SO (SOs will receive 4.14% and SFs 4.47%) will take effect on and from 20 February 2015, 14 weeks (or 7 pay periods) from today.
Jim Casey
State Secretary
For a printable copy of this SITREP, please click here.
Inside this issue: