The UFU and Emergency Service Agency (ESA) have reached a settlement in Federal Court litigation concerning underpayments to firefighters. The settlement closes a bitter chapter in relations between the two organisations, and signals a continuation of improved relations following last year’s landmark enterprise agreement. Details of the settlement and its consequences can be … [Read more...]
ACT on Fire: A modern fire service for ACT
The key issues for ACT Fire and Rescue firefighters in their next enterprise bargaining agreement are: Keep the pay rise, invest in safetyRecruit to address the firefighter shortage and address excessive overtime Implement a modern training regime Implement a firefighter wellbeing initiativeEnsure fire stations meet modern safety standardsOnly use firefighters' images in … [Read more...]
New $2.2m ‘Bronto’ to come on line
The aging and breakdown-prone Bronto, "the ACT's only specialised aerial firefighting unit" will be replaced with e new $2.2 million vehicle, according to a report in The Canberra Times of 8 May 2019. The government has also confirmed it had "signed off on a new $2 million pumper." In response to both announcements, UFU ACT Secretary, Greg McConville, said, "It's a welcome … [Read more...]
Good news for firefighters in ACT Budget
Canberra's firefighting capacity is set to expand in next week's ACT Budget according to this report in The Canberra Times of 31 May 2019. The budget is set to provide funds for the "preliminary design and preparations for two new shared fire and ambulance stations, one in the Molonglo Valley and another in the city", recruiting 36 new firefighters, and "$2.2 million on a … [Read more...]
Overtime taking its toll on ACT emergency services workers
This story in the Canberra Times of 21 April 2019 reports on the growing problem of increasing amounts of overtime being worked in the ACT emergency services, including much of it by firefighters, at a growing personal cost to them and a mounting monetary cost to taxpayers. … [Read more...]