Member Connect: July Update
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CFA Cancer Cluster report
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 …
This week’s news: Firies beat WorkCover cuts
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 …
This week’s news: Former CFA officer’s compensation claim rejected
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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This week’s news: QLD countdown to firecalls only
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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ACTU Member Connect: June 2012
Banking, shopping and superannuation: click here to read.
This week’s news: New Strike Laws in QLD
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 …
This week’s news: Vic make cancer compo possible
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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This week’s news: Vic brigade staff stop work
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 …
This week’s news: bushfire as terror weapon
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 …
Member Connect: benefits update
Latest Union benefits update: click here.
This week’s news: Hong Kong firefighters threaten action
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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Challenge yourself
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. …
This week’s news: PV safety is a burning issue
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 …
This week’s news: Fire service will be unfit for purpose
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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This week’s news: Cairns firefighters win 5 year battle
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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This week’s news: cost of a cuppa would save firies
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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This week’s news: lack of firefighting vessel endangers lives
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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This week’s news: Tassie presumptive legislation
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 …
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UFUA Bulletin 008
Following on from the successful enactment of the presumptive legislation for firefighters who are diagnosed with occupational cancer in the ACT and Aviation branches, and in accordance with the National Executive presumptive legislation programme, the United Firefighters Union of Australia is pleased to announce the following developments. ufua_bulletin_008_.
This week’s news: Cairns firies demand better rescue gear
Australia Qld: Cairns firefighters demand better rescue gear from Queensland Government. Cairns firefighters say their lives are endangered during swift water rescues by low grade personal flotation devices and they are battling the Queensland Government for safer emergency response gear. Last month, the United Firefighters’Union lodged a complaint against the employer. Vic: Nathalia residents told to go Firefighters …
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Annual Meeting Minutes BCOM 2011
Click to read (or right-click/Cmd-click to save to your computer: PDF download).
Memo: new iPhone app
UFUA shift calendar/organiser (App) available NOW from the itunes store. Click here to find out more (or right-click/Cmd-click to save to your computer: PDF download).
This week’s news: WA presumptive legislation
Australia WA: The UFUA 2012 WA Presumptive Legislation Campaign WA firefighters call for cancer compensation. The United Firefighters Union of Australia is calling on the WA government to support a private members bill which would make a special provision in the Workers’ Compensation Act for firefighters who contract cancer linked to their employment. The private members …
This week’s news: WA Bushire report slams prescribed burns management
Australia WA: Bushfire report slams prescribed burns management. An inquiry into the Margaret River bushfire has recommended an urgent review of the Department. The report was scathing of the DEC’s role in the fiasco – from its handling of the prescribed burn that started the bushfire, to its delayed and confused emergency response. WA bushfire and …
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Vic: Fatal flaws in ‘stay or go’ strategy
Australia Vic: Fatal flaws in ‘stay or go’ strategy . Australia’s revered ‘stay or go’ bushfire policy failed catastophically during Victoria’s 2009 Black Saturday inferno, reflecting the state’s inability to manage such extreme events, according to a new analysis of evidence from the royal commission into the tragedy. Auswide: Australian firefighters’ health study This Monash University study …
National Rule Change
Important notice to all members, rule amendments as adopted by NCOM. Please see attached 12_02_14_rule_change_notify.
Tassie fire crisis
Tasmania Fire Crisis: the UFUA fires up a campaign against TFS cuts Tasmania firefighters are fighting budget cuts and proposals to close a training centre, one station and other cost-cutting measures that could impact on operational firefighter numbers. The UFUA has launched a campaign, including a website to enable Tasmanians to send a pre-prepared letter …
This week’s news: firies put heat on solar panels
Australia ACT/NSW: Firies put heat on solar panels. Firefighters want better safeguards when facing the dangers posed by the country’s fastest-growing source of renewable energy. Fire and Rescue NSW wants solar panels equipped with a power shut-off capability at the meter box to lessen the risk of live power running through the roof. The Australasian Fire …
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Tassie fire crisis
Australia Tas: Report warns of potential fire crisis Tasmania’s dismal record in fire protection is under further threat from budget cuts, according to a report presented to the Tasmania Fire Service. The State Government intends cutting $1 million a year from its funding of the Tasmania Fire Service. It also plans to reduce the legislated …