Members of the mighty D Shift turned out in force in their UFU T-shirts as the first step in 2025 industrial campaign 15/8.
WHY IS THE UNION TAKING INDUSTRIAL ACTION?
UFUSA Shop Stewards and State Council have endorsed the creation of an industrial campaign that will roll out during the coming weeks, because of the unpreparedness of the South Australian Government to advance enterprise agreement negotiations.
At the last enterprise agreement meeting negotiators for the State Government attended the meeting without instructions and were not able to respond to claims put to them at previous meetings.
Beyond that, claims that should have been uncontroversial are still being left unresolved thirteen months into bargaining, including the Government refusing to incorporate the additional public holidays into the composite wage, and refusing to include in the Agreement guarantees that Firefighters will receive minimum training levels.
Bargaining has been ongoing for over 13 months now, with the Malinauskas Government taking more than 10 months for to even reveal its own claims: they began bargaining by falsely claiming they were seeking a ‘roll over’, a position that obviously was not true.
By not negotiating in good faith and reaching agreement on things that should not be controversial, the Government’s negotiators are preventing any serious discussion around wages from being able to develop. It seems likely that this is the Government’s strategy: that is, that they want to stall our bargaining until they are able to attempt to reach other pay agreements with less unionised public sector work groups and bind us to the result.
WHY NOW?
It is not in the interest of UFU members to sit and wait for the Government to agree to negotiate seriously with us in its own time, and on its own terms, after having reached pay agreements with less unionised work forces.
We need to put pressure on the Government to negotiate seriously now, and that requires us using our collective strength in the most persuasive, firmest manner we can.
WHAT ACTION ARE WE TAKING?
We are developing a plan for a potentially extended campaign that will roll out, and continue to escalate, over the coming weeks and potentially months. An early action has been for UFU members to wear your union clothing whilst on duty as demonstrated by our fabulous D shift members last Friday.
While this may seem a comparatively moderate step, it is deeply symbolic of the resolve and unity of firefighters in seeking respectful negotiations and fair outcomes in our next agreement. And there’s not one industry where the employer is pleased by such a demonstration of solidarity.
Please let us know through your Shop Steward if you need another UFUSA T-shirt and your size.
The programme of industrial action is being developed with a campaign committee of 10 Shop Stewards and State Councillors to oversee industrial actions which will escalate every 8 days once it commences in earnest. At all times we will, as always, seek to continue to ensure the safety of our membership and our community, wherever possible ensuring continuation of planned training and promotion processes. There will likely be times when members are inconvenienced by actions in place however we do ask that everyone works together to try and ensure that any difficulties are minimised. And to remember that there may be short-term pain to win long-term gain. Your ideas are welcome.
WILL WE CONTINUE TALKING TO THE GOVERNMENT?
It is unfortunate that a campaign is necessary however as always, our union will continue to meet with government representatives seeking resolution. Currently though we are a long way apart and we anticipate that a very active industrial campaign will be necessary to reach a reasonable agreement to cover the next three years. Your work as Firefighters is simply not currently properly recognised.
Members are invited to attend a special Enterprise Agreement (EA) meeting to hear and discuss an updated and detailed EA bargaining report and to provide your direct feedback on it.
It is vital that as many members as possible attend this meeting and demonstrate our collective concern and firm resolve to the employer, the Malinauskas government.
Wednesday, 3 September 2025 at the West Adelaide Football Club 37 Milne Terrace, Richmond
Commencing at 09:30 hours
RSVP to info@ufusa.com.au as numbers are needed for the venue.
UFUSA INDUSTRIAL OFFICER MILLIE TIZZARD
We are pleased to introduce you to our new Industrial Officer Millie Tizzard who has joined us just in time to sink her teeth into the UFU enterprise agreement campaign not to mention the plethora of other industrial work which continues to flood into our office.
Millie is a part-time law student and comes to us with a background of union and social activism as well as an employment background in Adelaide law firms. We are very lucky to have secured her services so please say hi and introduce yourself when you see Millie around the traps and make her welcome.
VALE COMMANDER ADRIENNE CLARKE OAM AFSM
The UFU office will be closed on Tuesday morning 26 August as we join Adrienne’s family, fellow members and comrades at Adelaide Station in a celebration of her life commencing at 11:00 hours.
Live streaming of the event at https://streaming.naoca.com.au/e/11d75976-2b27-425a-a50a-339a15c7f02b
The formal ceremony will be followed by a gathering at The Strathmore Hotel, 129 North Terrace, Adelaide from 1pm onwards.
Our thoughts are with Adrienne’s family, extended family, and friends at this sad and difficult time.
IN SOLIDARITY,
