Australia NSW: Firefighters head to IRC The Union is due to meet with NSW Emergency Services Minister Michael Gallacher in a last ditch effort to avoid a dispute about overtime blowouts heading back to the industrial umpire. NSW firefighters to head to Commission. Vic: Victorian towns still at risk of bushfire Dozens of communities at high risk of …
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Australia Vic: Firefighters unite over cancer risk laws The UFUA, former CFA chief Brian Potter (who is seriously ill after years of service at the authority’s Fiskville training ground) and Volunteers Fire Brigades Victoria have written to all state MPs and are seeking a meeting with Emergency Services Minister Peter Ryan. Firefighters call for cancer compensation. …
The CFA investigation into the historic practices of live fire training at Fiskville condemns previous practice and confirms that firefighters were subject to horrendous exposures of carcinogens and toxins over a long period of time. Click here to read the bulletin (or right-click/Cmd-click to save to your computer: PDF download).
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Know your legislative and compliance requirements! Click here (or right-click/Cmd-click to save to your computer: PDF download).
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Australia Vic: CFA recruits had to swim through contaminated dams United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall said it demonstrated the CFA did not want to be subjected to public scrutiny and “it has been shown they gave false assurances to the public and employees about the quality of the water”. Vic: Fiskville gag claims The Union says …
Australia Vic: CFA knew of potentially deadly water contamination The CFA was aware of the potential hazard at its main training college for at least 12 years but did nothing to warn firefighters. Fiskville water: MFB firefighters defer water-based parts of their training course at Fiskville as CFA claim training site water is acceptable. Highly-toxic CFA training ground Fiskville should …
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Australia Vic: CFA cancer cluster report arrives early A long-awaited report into a cancer cluster among Victorian firefighters has been delivered early but those seeking answers will have to wait longer. More firefighters sound alarm on CFA Fiskville training hub. Victoria’s firefighters deserve compensation. Vic: CFA recruits pulled after water scare Water used at the Country Fire …
Australia NSW: Firies exempt as WorkCover shake-up passes parliament The Opposition says the legislation means NSW now has the most draconian workers compensation system in Australia. Firefighters strike as compo fight erupts. Firefighters spray O’Farrell. Qld: EB negotiations update – we won’t accept a sub-standard agreement The state government has changed the industrial laws to advantage them during bargaining …
Australia Vic: Former CFA officer’s compensation claim rejected The UFU is shocked a senior officer who blew the whistle on the cancer cluster concerns at at a CFA training facility west of Melbourne, has had his compensation claim rejected. UFU Victorian Secretary Peter Marshall says the CFA failed to make a strong enough case to the insurer, on …
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Australia Qld: Count down to firecalls only With new state industrial laws that target industrial action over EB claims, the Union notifies the QFRS about protected industrial action from August 1. Vic: CFA reneges once again In addition to reneging on 342 extra staff, the CFA is now attempting to roll out and commission specialist appliances without any genuine …
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Australia and international Qld: New strike laws open to misuse say Unions Queensland Unions argue against new laws giving a minister the power to order striking public sector workers back to work. New IR laws favour the government. Details about the new legislation. WA: Union questions fire management funds The United Firefighters Union of Western Australia says funding, allocated to …
Australia Vic: Make cancer compo possible The ALP opposition and the Greens want the Baillieu government to make Victorian firefighters eligible for WorkCover if they contract cancers, like those employed by the Commonwealth who are now able to claim compensation. Italy Earthquake aftermath QLD: EB round to start The United Firefighters Union and the QFRS will soon commence …
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Australia Vic: Brigade staff stop work The workers, including administrative staff and mechanics who are responsible for the upkeep of firefighting vehicles, held a rally outside the MFB’s city headquarters during a four-hour work stoppage today. United Firefighters Union state secretary Peter Marshall said the workers, among the lowest paid in their fields, were demanding a 4.5 …
Australia Auswide: Al-Qaeda urges firebombing Australia Terrorist organisation’s magazine offers examples and statistics of devastating fires to illustrate bushfires as a weapon of terrorism. Qld: Fire chief fears bushfire season The wet summer had created significant dangers; rural firefighters believe the region could be in for a torrid time this bushfire season and are urging landowners to …
Latest Union benefits update: click here.
Mick Farrell retiring: click here (or right-click/Cmd-click to save to your computer: PDF download).
Hong Kong: Firefighters threaten action over hours Firefighters have threatened a work-to-rule campaign over their demands for shorter working hours. Hong Kong Fire Services Department Staffs General Association president Lee Tak-kei said their demands for a 48-hour week, in line with other disciplined services, were first made in 1990 but has gone unanswered for 22 years. The …
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A life-changing Himalayan adventure to the Mt. Everest base camp; it’s a ultimate adventure and training package between October 10 and 28. “Let us take you on an adventure of a lifetime and share the beauty of the Himalaya and the people of Nepal. It’s time to commit, explore and achieve.” Jack Carmody and Russ Tomlin, xtremeadventures.net.au. 120511_brochure_everest_basecamp. …
Australia NSW: PV system safety is a burning issue. In recent years, there have been a number of international reports of fires and of unsafe installations in domestic solar PV installations that could have posed a fire risk. Last year, in Australia, the NSW Government issued details of a survey of solar PV installations in western …
Links to selected firefighter workplace, industrial, technology and OHS news stories. UK: Fire service will be ‘unfit for purpose’ if cuts go ahead, firefighters warn local MPs. A dozen firefighters from across Wiltshire travel to Westminster to warn local MPs plans to slash £1.8 million from the Fire Authority budget would render the county’s fire service …
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Australia Qld: Cairns firefighters win five-year battle for safer rescue equipment . Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has issued an improvement notice to the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) over inadequate personal flotation devices given to swift water rescue firefighters. The UFU lodged a complaint against the QFRS on behalf of Cairns firefighters in February. …
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Read the April 2012 newsletter by clicking here (or right-click/Cmd-click to save to your computer: PDF download).
Australia Tas: Cost of a cuppa would save firies. The Tasmanian Fire Service could be bankrupt within five years if a council-collected levy worth upwards of $10 million annually isn’t restored to previous levels. The Union has told a rally in Hobart that at a yearly cost of about a cup of coffee for each ratepayer, the …
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Australia Vic: Union says lack of firefighting vessel endangers lives. Melbourne firefighters say the lack of a purpose-built boat to tackle fires on the city’s waterways is endangering lives. Firefighters call for boats after Docklands fire The Firefighters’ Union secretary said the MFB Board should be sacked if it does not buy a firefighting boat. Union demands proper firefighting …
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Australia Tas: Firies cancer legislation battle. United Firefighters Union National Secretary Peter Marshall said he hoped Tasmania would become the first Australian state to recognise, via legislation, the unique dangers firefighters face. Tas: Minister in presumptive move Read the latest National Bulletin from the UFUA. Tas: Moves to extinguish fire threat Tasmanian could be on the verge of becoming the …
Read more “This week’s news: Tassie presumptive legislation”