Very best wishes are extended to all members at the commencement of the 2022 New Year with the hope that with the turning of the calendar, come new opportunities to go forward with new resolve to make this a better world.
It is an understatement to say that it is disappointing to end the year on a bitter note however that is the experience of many SAMFS members suffering at the hands of the employer in many and various issues throughout the year.
President Chas Thomas warmly welcomed 18 new firefighters to our ranks last week, with hearty congratulations on the successful completion of the demanding Recruit Training in decidedly challenging circumstances.
Diesel exhaust in MFS stations has been a significant health and safety issue for many years with Diesel Particulate Matter having been declared a Category 1 Carcinogen in 2012 by the World Health Organisation.
The UFUSA and UFUA SA Branch Annual General Meetings are scheduled for tomorrow Thursday, 9 December 2021 commencing at 10:00 hours at the union office.
The meeting of UFU Shop Stewards and State Councillors held last week was very well attended and we thank our elected representatives for the job they do in the interests of firefighters, very often in their own time and often wrestling with prickly issues.
Meetings for negotiations on the Enterprise Agreement (EA) have continued however as reported to the UFUSA Conference in September 2021, stonewalling and game playing continues to be the order of the day from the employer rather than genuine negotiation.
Further to Wordback No 45/2021 issued this morning, the UFU is pleased to report that correspondence has been received from the employer this afternoon which now commits to implementation of all the recommendations of the SA Employment Tribunal of 1 November 2021.
On 27 October the UFU & SAMFS / DTF (the employer) attended a SA Employment Tribunal conference about the dispute where SAMFS unfairly demoted members from SFQ Level 2.
In the absence of a satisfactory response from the employer to the matters in dispute and to fight for an enterprise agreement outcome that makes sure this can’t happen again, industrial actions will escalate from tomorrow Friday, 22 October 2021 at 08:00 hours.
Industrial actions unanimously endorsed by State Council last week escalate at 0800 hours today Monday 18 October 2021, with members gadded to act up, returning to their substantive positions.
Today State Council unanimously endorsed industrial action in response to the employer demoting members from the rank of SFFQ without a proper process.
Our union has been pursuing the issue of improved training, development and promotion processes within the MFS, commencing with the Senior Firefighter Qualified rank, for some time.
The UFUSA Conference of Shop Stewards and State Councillors held last week expressed deep concern about the ongoing failure of the employer to address the risk of exposure to diesel particulate matter (DPM) in our workplace and called on them to immediately meet their obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2012.
This update follows the events on the streets of Melbourne this week and the attack on the CFMMEU office.
Our Union has resolved to organise a conference of all UFUSA Shop Stewards and State Councillors to enable us to get together on a range of current issues.
343 firefighters were lost on 11 September 2001 and since then it’s reported that nearly a thousand more have died as a consequence of turning out that day.
SA Unions has advised that a rally is being organised for tomorrow morning when the Liberal Party is holding its conference, and we are invited to participate.
Your elected Work Health and Safety Representatives are meeting this Friday, 20 August 2021 commencing at 10:00 hours at your union office at 148 South Road Torrensville and via Zoom with regional locations.
It was good to have the first meeting of the new State Council yesterday and there was plenty on the agenda including the SFQ dispute, underpayments, updating on the Safety and Resourcing Campaign, Enterprise Agreement negotiations, UFU staffing, diesel particulates, PFAS, drug and alcohol testing, the MFS Respectful Behaviour Working Party, the MFS Strategic Policy Framework Review and a report on the latest on PPE/C.
The enterprise bargaining meeting of 4 August 2021 repeated the previous pattern of the employer continuing to stonewall on the issue of safety and resourcing, refusing to even discuss asset management plans or to propose another for where these critical issues can be discussed.
Throughout the pandemic crises in 2020 our union worked closely, even collaboratively with MFS management in the interests of members’ health and safety and that of the broader community.
How refreshing to see such energy and enthusiasm for work health and safety as is currently being displayed by the employer at the SAMFS.
Call for nominations for Health and Safety Representatives/Shop Stewards and Deputy Health and Safety Representatives/Shop Stewards.
Return to Work SA (RTWSA) and Minister for Workers Compensation in SA Rob Lucas, have been caught out being in cahoots on a plan to further reduce the entitlements of injured workers.
The ballots for the contested positions on the UFUSA State Council closed yesterday, the count has now been conducted and candidates advised of the outcome.
Further meetings with the employer (the Department of Treasury and Finance and the MFS) are currently being scheduled, with our union proposing the next meeting on the Enterprise Agreement for Friday, 18 June 2021.
The UFU is pleased to accept the kind invitation from the APFF to host the Coffee Club scheduled for tomorrow morning.
The solidarity and commitment of members to our Safety and Resourcing Campaign has faced down all challenges to date and continues to drive slow but positive changes for MFS employees and others in the emergency services sector.
Safety and Resourcing Campaign bans were lifted on 30 April 2021, in response to the agreement of the Chief Officer to meet to discuss a range of issues of concern.
and then