Pay bushfire fighters better

Date: 07 August 2009

The bushfire season in Western Australia starts in eight weeks time; And there is real cause for concern that the number of forest fighter numbers will be down this season, the union representing WA's forest firefighters said today.

Meeting in Perth this week the Australian Workers' Union National Executive discussed strategies to promote job security and improve wages for all Australian bush firefighters.

State having trouble getting firefighters for this dangerous work

" Despite the tragic lessons from Victoria the WA State Government still refuses to reward their frontline bush firefighters in line with the State's FESA firefighters.

" The refusal to put forest firefighters on an equal standing with FESA firefighters is resulting in less people making themselves available for this dangerous work," AWU National Secretary, Paul Howes, warned.

Crucial shortage of people to do heroic work

" The AWU represents firefighters on the frontline of bushfires in all states - we know there is a crucial shortage of people across the country prepared to take on the heroic work often needed during the bushfire season.

" In recent months our union has been campaigning in Victoria, Queensland and WA strongly for these workers to be given the respect they deserve for their efforts in saving communities facing the dangers and horrors of forest fires.

The West Australian AWU Secretary, Stephen Price, warned his members have real concerns about the upcoming bushfire season.

Relying on forest firefighters with limited experience

" There are now clear indications that this year we will see a shortage of fire fit personnel in some Western Australian regions," Stephen Price said.

" This will result in either insufficient staff to man all equipment, or a high ratio of forest firefighters with limited experience.

" Western Australia is now facing a dangerous loss of experience in the service, because a large part of this workforce will retire in the next 5-10 years," Stephen Price said.

Victorian bush firefighters get big win after union campaign

The Victorian state government has recently recognised the important work of its forest firefighters, the union's Victorian AWU Secretary, Cesar Melhem, reported to the AWU National Executive meeting in Perth.

A campaign by the Australian Workers' Union in that state has won an agreement which provides an up-front increase of $5350 to the base rate salary and 15.75% increase over 3 years.

In Queensland the AWU is currently in the middle of what is expected to be a successful campaign to deliver a similar result for AWU members in that state.

WA public sector wages policy should not be excuse to addressing crisis

But in Western Australia the State Government will not recognise the need for change.

Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) firefighters earn around $10,000 per year more than the firefighters employed by the Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC).

" The public sector wages policy promoted by the WA Government should not be used as the basis for failing to address a crisis situation," Paul Howes said.

Need to attract and retain a younger workforce for long term

" The AWU National Executive calls on all State Governments to recognise the importance of bush firefighters in this country, and adequately resource the state government authorities who carry out this work," Paul Howes said.

" This includes proper levels of staffing in regional centres and adequately rewarding firefighters doing this dangerous work so that new and younger staff can be attracted and retained in the service.

" In Western Australia many firefighters who have 10 or more years experience in fighting bushfires earn the equivalent of a trainee FESA fire fighter.

" We believe now is the time to act for the WA State Government to ensure we attract new firefighters for the upcoming bushfire season.

" That can be done if the new Department of Environment and Conservation enterprise agreement significantly increases the base rate for all AWU classifications."

Read earlier AWU reports on this issue

• Unjustified attack on WA Forest Firefighters pay must be challenged

• Penny-pinching leaves National Parks as Qld fire season's weak link

• Who will save Herbie the Possum after Miss Jones?

• Rangers want to protect Herbie the Possum

• Invest in bushfire preparations now: AWU

• AWU backs Vic Bushfire class action

• Union tells Royal Commission 1500 extra Victorian Bush Firefighters needed

• Read the AWU's Submission to the Bushfire Royal Commission (PDF)

For further information

Contact:	Paul Howes, National Secretary
Union:	AWU
WWW:	http://www.awu.net.au/

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed
by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW
[Credits] [Site Matters]