The meeting of UFUSA Shop Stewards and State Councillors has been rescheduled to maximise attendance by your elected representatives and will now be held on Tuesday 17 October 2023.
As previously advised matters to be canvassed at the meeting will include the Overtime and Recall Trial proposed by the MFS, our next Log of Claims for our enterprise bargaining agreement, the development of the Direct Entry (Recruitment of Experienced Firefighters) System, Diesel Emissions, Disciplinary, the Independent Promotions Review, Regional Operations Review and Ambulance Assist.
It is very timely, as we move towards negotiations our next EA, for those stations or worksites which do not have a Shop Steward, to get organised and elect your representative as a priority. Please do contact us if you’d like any assistance with organising this by emailing us at info@ufusa.com.au
THANK YOU ANGELS AT WORKING BEE
There are no words adequate to express our thanks to the group of angels who showed up on 19 September to carry out the hard labour needed on your union office. The strong tradition of firefighters doing the hard yards to care for, update and improve this asset fully owned by all members has proudly been carried forward and has already resulted in a greatly enhanced valuation of our building as well as an enhanced workplace for your employees to operate from. Thank you.
AGM
A full report on the union’s activities and finances over the last year will be presented to the Annual General Meeting scheduled for 7 December 2023 at your union office at 148 South Road Torrensville. All members are invited to come along and participate in your union by helping to determine our direction in the times to come.
PAID TRAINING FOR RETAINED FIREFIGHTERS
Advice previously provided in Wordback in relation to payment to be paid to Retained Firefighters participating in training is reiterated and any members either not being paid or only partially paid are urged to advise the union office by emailing info@ufusa.com.au ASAP.
NO THE SKY ISN’T FALLING IN BUT THE ROOF at HQ URGENTLY NEEDS REPAIR
As we repair and restore our union office, it looks like some serious attention is also required for the repairs needed in the Communications Centre in Wakefield Street.
I was very concerned to call in to Comms last week to hear of serious and variable problems with climate control there and to see the state of the ceiling with leakages which have required the moving of sensitive communications equipment and personnel to avoid the rain. Not to mention the ingress through the ceiling of an unacceptable amount of dust in the living quarters making it difficult to keep clean as well as exacerbating hay fever and allergies of members.
It is reported that the members concerned have been very patient with work which has been ongoing for an extended period without resolution to the problem. The matter is now being pursued with MFS management with a view to developing a work plan and timeframe to deliver to Comms members the benefits of a more modern, comfortable and safe workplace, as well as a resolution to this work health and safety issue, as a priority.
APOLOGY AND THANK YOU
Congratulations to those of you who picked up the error in Wordback 14/2023 whereby Mr Thompson suffered the ignominy of a misnomer – my apologies Darren errr sorry, Dale, these are often written quite late and I accept full responsibility for errors – thank you though for your grace and thick skin.
Thank you also to the St Mary’s crew who phoned asking for Glenn…😊
In solidarity
