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...]
Firefighters yet to receive practical training to deal with light rail incidents
The Canberra Times of 17 March 2019 reports of rising concerns that "frontline firefighters are yet to receive practical training to deal with light rail incidents", yet they are already responding to emergencies. UFU Branch Secretary, Greg McConville, expressed concern over the level of training provided to date, noting that "the number of people hit by light rail vehicles … [Read more...]
Light rail rescue response plan slammed by UFU
The Canberra Times of 3 March 2019 reports that "firefighters' union has slammed authorities' plan to respond to light rail incidents, saying firefighters will be left waiting for key pieces of rescue equipment that could be "the difference between life and death" in emergencies." … [Read more...]
Budget allocates $2.3m for protective firefighter gear
United Firefighters Union ACT Branch Secretary, Greg McConville, has welcomed the ACT Government's budget decision to allocate $2.3 million for new protective outerwear firefighting garments. A story on this item appeared in the Canberra Times on 23 January 2019. The clothing will consist of an outer tunic and over pants, in addition to the funding for new flamepoof, … [Read more...]
Fire station renovations: ‘A litany of disasters’
A story in the Canberra Times on 3 February 2019 sums up a range of concerns about the construction and renovation of Canberra's fire stations identified by the UFU: "Rooftop solar panels that haven't been activated for nearly four years, slippery floors that had to be repainted twice and CCTV cameras that could have captured footage of criminals if only they'd been switched … [Read more...]