All UFU members should be proud of the Unity, Strength And Discipline that is being demonstrated by you all in our Fair Go for Firies campaign. The massive response from members is sending a strong message to the employer, the Malinauskas Government that firefighters stand united and strong in our quest to be treated with respect and to be valued for the strong contribution that we make to our community.
We are also proud to see so many union t-shirts out and about, and many more being collected from our offices, symbolic of our solidarity with one another in our commitment to achieving a fair go.
The campaign of activities by UFU members will continue and will escalate regularly and it is heartening that our office is being inundated with enthusiastic suggestions for lots more.
Our Disputes Committee comprised of a number of elected State Councillors and Shop Stewards meets weekly to review and agree proposed actions and there is much more to come in weeks ahead. It’s disappointing but we anticipate we will need to go hard in this campaign to convince the government of the real value of firefighters, in particular the expanded and more complex scope of our work and the need to properly resource areas such as training and support within the MFS for both Metropolitan and Regional Operations.
At yesterday’s State Council we reviewed and supported the proposals arising from the meeting of the Dispute Committee of Tuesday this week and accordingly from 08:00 hours on Monday 15/9:
Stage Three actions are added to those of Stages One and Two so that the actions in total will be:
- A ban on Act Ups, in this stage now including long-term GADs. This includes Adelaide personnel acting up in Port Pirie Station.
- Marine and Comcen have approved exceptions in the Act up Ban but are taking alternative actions in order to participate in the campaign and contribute strongly to the outcome. Please speak to your Shop Steward if you are in any doubt about these actions.
- Continue “Work to Rule” shift Changeovers (crews can help one another out where there are specific difficulties for an individual) Members will continue to report for duty at the legally designated time of 08:00 hours for day shifts and at 18:00 hours for night shifts, rather than providing the employer with the usual additional free time. Please ensure that appropriate paperwork is completed to enable payment of overtime as per the Award, to those holding back to complete Parade and effective handover.
- A ban on transfers to Operations for Comcen workers.
- A ban on OTR relieving of individuals rather than whole crews, resulting in recalls being required.
- Alternative Daily Work Routine with public drilling. Crews will yourself collectively determine the daily work routine which you adopt at your station with strong encouragement to include drilling in public. We hope and expect that MFS managers will work with us however any difficulties encountered by members should be reported immediately as this is authorised action.
- Volunteering members will promote Fair Go For Firies Campaign by participating in (or supporting) the City To Bay Fun Run 2025 on Sunday, 21 September, raising funds for the Black Dog Institute in honour of our late Comrade Adrienne Clarke. There will be an exemption to the work to rule provision for shifts in Adelaide on this day to allow for the timely attendance of appliances at the event proudly flying UFU flags. Members are urged to turn out in union T-shirts to support those who are running. Runners will meet at 07:30 hours at the Rotunda. Many thanks to Nigel Osborn for proposing and coordinating this initiative.
Join the team or to make a donation.
- The ban on charging for alarms continues. Having received agreement from the MFS to honour the waiver of fees in return for the data collection, members are requested to enter the call into the AIRS system, Select Block B & enter YES in the Waive Code field. Put ‘IA’ ( standing for Industrial Action) in Comment field in Waiver.
- A ban on charging for private monitoring, using the same method described above.
- Members are asked to continue wearing UFU T-shirts as a minimum on day shifts. Photos of members wearing T-shirts and carrying out your work (including rescuing ducklings) are very much appreciated. We expect that red campaign shirts will be available early next week.
- A ban on CSRD charging for Booster Tests
- Chalking FAIR GO FOR FIRIES on windows of Stations and private vehicles
- Display UFU Flags everywhere we can.
- Social media – members to like and share to spread the word
- Continue to engage with media
- Focus on UNITY STRENGTH & DISCIPLINE to WIN
Please note that bans and changes in practice relating to Reliever Travel are not included in Stage Three but are planned to be included in Stage Four following consultation with Reliever reps.
As always, if you have any questions please direct them to your local shop steward in the first instance, and if your station doesn’t have one there’s never been a better time to organise one.
Reminder: Training and promotion processes are exempt from industrial action. If you are working in an area which is currently not actively involved in campaign action, please ensure that you take any steps you are able, in solidarity with your workmates, such as wearing your T-shirt.
Organisation of campaign materials continues in preparation for the escalated campaigning we anticipate is required. Ideas and suggestions continue to be most welcome and thank you to those who have submitted. Thank you also for your patience when you contact the union office as we are being somewhat overwhelmed with demand.
In the event of any queries or concerns please contact your Shop Steward or State Councillor in the first instance or call the union office on 8352 7211.
Meanwhile… UNDERPAYMENT of Graduates of Recruit Squad 64 – disappointingly but perhaps not surprisingly the union was advised that this cohort of members has not had their pay increased from that of a recruit to firefighter, despite now being fully fledged firefighters for several weeks. The matter has been addressed with the MFS, and we are advised that the steps have been initiated to resolve the concern. Members should keep us advised if this does not occur.
As we all know, members distressingly experience problems regularly with payment of your salary and allowances largely based on the stripping of resourcing including support staff positions, from the MFS by this government. While those support staff are sadly not able to be members of the UFU, in this and other areas, the lack of resourcing is having a very negative effect on UFU members.
We must continue to raise our voice and ensure that we receive the respect and support we need and deserve.
In Solidarity
