It’s very pleasing to see the return to work at SAMFS of Roy Thompson next week and we all congratulate him on his commitment and fortitude in prevailing against the challenges he has faced over the last two and half years.

It was a very full day of business today for your elected representatives who met to hear reports and participate in discussions about a wide range of matters affecting you as members.

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.

It was both an honour and a pleasure to be invited to attend the passing out parade of our 23 newest firefighters today.

Our union is glad to have achieved the rollout of training delivered by SAAS to assist our members in the performance of current work of the MFS when involved in Assist Ambulance calls and we congratulate all those involved in its development and delivery.

UFU State Councillors were elated to welcome ACFO Roy Thompson to the union office today.

Members may recall the appeal in recent years against the promotion of a member to the position of Assistant Chief Officer. That matter was heard in the SA Employment Tribunal with a judgement handed down by His Honour Judge Hannon.

Congratulations to all UFUSA members involved in organising and participating in the Australasian Rescue Challenge 2023 currently underway at the Wayville Pavilion in the Adelaide Showgrounds. (29/6 – 2/7/23)

The number of MFS/UFU participants in the Mother’s Day Classic is growing but with only 9 days to go we are putting a call out for some more keen firefighters to join us for this very worthy event!!

Each day firefighters act to protect life, property, and the environment in our community.

May 1, May Day is a commemoration of the achievements of the labour movement, also known as International Workers Day.

Our union continues to fight for injured firefighters to ensure that they are paid correctly. It is frustrating in the extreme dealing with SAMFS, SAFECOM, Shared Services and IRAP on these matters as it appears they just cannot get the pay calculations right.

As Firefighters we are shockingly far too familiar with the scourge of cancer; advocating for members and retired members with industrial cancer claims sadly forms a significant part of our Union’s work. 

We are receiving many calls and emails from members informing of underpayment or non-payment. It appears that firefighters who are or were injured at work, may not have been paid the pay increases and backpay expected under the increased pay rates of the Enterprise Agreement. 

New rates of pay under the SAMFS Firefighters Enterprise Agreement are now applicable and the backpay for current employees should be included in this week’s pay.

No changes have been advised to our union for the proposed schedule of payments under the new EA, we anticipate that the dates as advised in Wordback 1/2023

Our Union has embarked upon 2023 very busily with a very strong and positive start to the New Year.

UFU President Chas Thomas and I, in reflecting on the year that was, decided to again video one of our short and possibly annoying clips to update you about what’s going on now.

The ballot for the UFUSA MFS Firefighters Enterprise Agreement (EA) closed at midday today and with the results just in from the private company which conducted the electronic ballot, I can advise you of an overwhelming participation and acceptance of the offer by members.

Your UFU Annual General Meeting will be held at our Union Office this week, followed by a delicious rotisserie Xmas lunch catered by Gourmandiser BBQ and you’re invited.

After three years of bargaining and campaigning, the revised government proposals for the new SAMFS Firefighters EA (Enterprise Agreement) will be put to ballot later this week.

Many meetings and much work has been devoted to the development of the draft of the new Enterprise Agreement (EA) since receiving the latest offer and we think we’re almost there.

Yesterday’s meeting of UFU Shop Stewards and State Councillors focused solely on the latest offer for a new firefighter enterprise agreement (EA).

A new offer to UFUSA members employed as firefighters by the SAMFS has now been received in writing and will be considered by your Shop Stewards and State Councillors at a meeting at the union office at 11:00 hours today.

UFUSA Members are making a massive effort in pursuit of a fair wage increase, and it seems that’s what it’s going to take to achieve progress in this important matter.

Congratulations to UFU members on a wildly successful and courteous protest at the ALP Convention yesterday; a huge thank you to all members and families (and fur babies) who were able to participate at such short notice.

A packed meeting of State Councillors and Shop Stewards was yesterday unanimous in its resolution on the appropriate course of action to pursue and achieve fair wages for firefighters.

UFUSA Shop Stewards and State Councillors have been called together to meet today at 11:00 hours at the UFU office at Torrensville to hear a report on progress of the enterprise agreement negotiations.