News

A Greens amendment to exempt FRNSW firefighters and ASNSW paramedics from the O’Farrell Government’s appalling workers comp “reforms” was passed early this morning.

Comms, Rescue, Aerial, Hazmat, Retained and Exec. Officers to return to duty Today the Department sought orders from the Industrial Relations Commission that the Union cease its industrial action. Whilst the IRC did not make such orders, it did make […]

Workers Compensation for Firefighters under attack All members on strike from 1300 hrs Thursday 21 June 2012

RFS Volunteers exempt from Workers Comp cuts Urgent Special General Meeting to be held tomorrow Thursday 21 June 2012

Petty Cash, Meal and Refreshment Allowance Dispute As reported in SITREP 19/2012, the Department and the Union re-appeared before Justice Haylen of the IRC this afternoon.

CODE RED: PETTY CASH, MEAL AND REFRESHMENT ALLOWANCE DISPUTE - OUT-DUTIES BANNED FROM 1800 HRS As a result of the Department’s continued refusal to abide by the clear provisions of our Awards (subclauses 10.3.1 and 10.4.1 of the Permanent Award, and subclause 8.3.1 of the Retained Award) governing the payment of meal and refreshment allowances, it’s refusal to reimburse petty cash floats at stations and the regrettable fact that the processes required by the Industrial Relations Act to prosecute these breaches and to enforce the Awards are so delayed and protracted that they cannot be expected to restore members’ lawful entitlements for several months, the Union’s State Committee has resolved to issue the following instructions.

Correspondence today between the Union and the Department has resulted in a breakthrough in the current dispute over the LSV Staffing arrangement. The staffing arrangements for the LSVs are to revert to the position agreed between the parties in February 2010 as a part of the settlement of the Waratah dispute.

Dept walks away from LSV agreement When the Union settled the Waratah Fire Station dispute last year (see SITREP No. 8/2010 “Waratah dispute settled with new stations and extra jobs”), we did so with the clear intention of providing additional positions for alternate duties members. As SITREP 2010/8 reported, “The 6 LSV’s will in future be staffed by permanent members on suitable duties, thereby allowing injured members to stay on the 10/14 rather than working day shift in the Zone Office”.

The following Sydney members are to stop work for two hours at 1100 hours and proceed immediately with their station’s pumper (or section’s vehicle(s)) to the FBEU’s rallying point at St Mary’s Cathedral Square, College St, Sydney.