CODE 2, VOL 38, NO 2 : 30 JANUARY 2024

RURAL, REGIONAL AND REMOTE EMPLOYMENT:
REVIEW OF ATTRACTION AND RETENTION OF EMPLOYEES – CALL FOR SMEs 

Many members have been asking about progressing this requirement of clause 36(l) of CA22, and rightly so.

This topic is vital to many of you, as the frequently expressed frustration over the difficulty in attracting and retaining firefighters, station officers and senior officers to work locations outside of major metropolitan locations in Queensland. And what you’re reporting is the difficulty attracting and retaining people is getting worse.

Your union is calling for nominations from firefighters, station officers and senior officers who are a) members of the UFUQ, and b) working in work locations outside of metropolitan areas.  Ideally, we will engage one firefighter of any rank, one station officer, and one senior officer, with ultimately, three remote locations being represented.  Having said that, once expressions of interest come in, we will determine the size and make-up of our SME group. Not everyone that nominates can be selected, but rest assured, all members will be given ample opportunity to provide input to the review process once it commences as soon as possible.

Your union is holding a meeting with QFES on Wednesday 31 January about this group and the timing of, and conduct of, the review.

I will provide an update once the matter progresses, and we have selected our representatives.

BAO REVIEW – UPDATE

In accordance with clause 78 of CA22, a BAO review will commence in 2024.

The first step will be a day-long planning workshop to set out initial input from UFUQ representatives and QFES about what the review will include and how it will be undertaken.  This workshop will occur in February 2024. An email will be sent to BAO members to call for nominations to attend this planning workshop.  Only three or four UFUQ representatives will be needed for the planning workshop, but all BAO members will then, of course, be provided with multiple opportunities for input to the eventual review. The email asking for workshop representatives will be sent to BAO members within two weeks.

LIVE FIRE CAMPUS ALLOWANCE – STILL NO $$$?!

Sadly, the tough work being performed by your colleagues at SFEST live fire continues to go unrewarded with the allowance still not being paid.

CA22 was certified over 250 days ago, and the provision for those working in live fire earning an allowance commenced.  Yet QFES HR, payroll and QSS do not appear to be able to flick the switch on people getting their backpay and allowances.

There is a legal obligation for QFES, a model employer and model litigant to comply with an industrial instrument when they are obligated to, or become aware they must, pay an entitlement. Your union is writing to the Commissioner this week to remind him of this and we will provide an update when we have the Commissioner’s response.

John Oliver - General Secretary