Canberra firefighters to "vote on whether to take industrial action as part of a dispute with the Emergency Services Agency over their employment conditions" reports the Canberra Times on 19 February 2019. This follows the UFU's application for a protected action ballot order at the Fair Work Commission. … [Read more...]
Members Update Archive
UFU concerned about plans to alter ACT ‘triple 0’ centre staffing arrangements
The UFU is concerned about plans to expand the ACT's fire and ambulance emergency call centre while at the same time phasing out the role of firefighters and replacing them with civilians, reports the Canberra Times on 23 December 2018. … [Read more...]
Job vacancy at UFU ACT: Industrial Officer / Organiser (0.6 time)
The United Firefighters Union ACT Branch is seeking a part time industrial officer / organiser to assist the Branch Secretary in representation of UFU members. The position is offered as a six month position, 3 days per week with some flexibility. The position is based at our office in Dickson, Canberra. Applications addressing the attached position description (UFU ACT … [Read more...]
Confusion reigns about the use of PFAS and its effects
Concerns expressed by the United Firefighters' Union and many others about the uncertainties surrounding the use and residual effects of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the ACT and beyond continue to grow. The latest story in the Canberra Times of 26 June 2018 reports on confusion within the Emergency Services Agency about whether fire fighting trucks carry … [Read more...]
Toxic fire fighting foams: a legacy of contamination at nine ACT fire stations ?
The Canberra Times of 11 June 2018 reports that according to government briefings from December 2017 "toxic fire fighting foams could have left a legacy of contamination at nine fire stations across the ACT as well as defence department and police facilities". The news article states that potentially-harmful polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which were "present in aqueous … [Read more...]