CODE 2, VOL 29, NO 47 : 07 DECEMBER 2015New Fire and Rescue Service Minister
Queensland Government ‘Core Agreement’
Firefighters and communication officers employed under the current QIRC Determination and auxiliary firefighters employed under the Act (and from January 1 2016 the new award) are not Queensland government employees employed under the Queensland Public Service Core Agreement. Most employees covered by the core agreement work in administrative roles and are not front line workers.
This means that the 2.5% pay rises and the one off payment applicable to Queensland government employees who are employed under the ‘core agreement’ do not include firefighters or communication officers.
For clarity - firefighters and communication officers are not eligible for this one off payment.
Public service employees covered by the ‘core agreement’ did not receive a pay-rise for some years and this one off payment addresses that.
We enter into a phase of negotiating the new agreement for permanent firefighters and communication officers in the middle of 2016.
I will visit each region in the new year to meet with members to discuss our log of claims in the first few months of 2016.
UFUQ welcomes new Minister
Premier Palaszczuk has announced the new Queensland government cabinet and we are pleased to inform you that the new minister for fire and rescue is Mr Bill Byrne.
Your union had a positive working relationship with Mr Byrne when he was shadow minister for the portfolio prior to the last state election.
I, along with the state executive and SCM, look forward to renewing that positive working relationship with the new minister.
New UFUQ industrial officer
Following the departure of industrial officer Ms Paula Newman in early December 2015, Mr Nathan Tosh has commenced full-time employment in an industrial officer role with your union.
Nate has a strong background in assisting union members both collectively and individually and also has valuable experience with WorkCover matters.
Please join with me in welcoming Nate to your union state office.
John Oliver - State Secretary