AUXILIARY UPDATE : 19 july 2024

CLARIFICATION ON AWARD CLAUSE 22 –
MINIMUM TWO HOURS’ PAY FOR A ‘CALL-IN’

A number of Auxiliary Firefighters have recently contacted UFUQ representatives and the state office about some potentially mistaken and inconsistent application across the state of the mandatory two-hour minimum payment provisions contained in Clause 22 of your award.

You can find your award here, clause 22 is on page 13.

On the basis that we thought the matter was quite simple and has never been in question, your union contacted QFD and sought their confirmation that on all occasions, when an Auxiliary Firefighter is required to perform work, they are to be paid a minimum of two hours. I am pleased to report that QFD held the same opinion and worked with your union to ensure there was a clearly worded agreement exchanged on this entitlement.

To be very clear, UFUQ and QFD agree on the minimum two hours’ payment applying to all work.

It’s useful to repeat wording from a February 2016 Auxiliary Firefighter Award Implementation Update sent by (then QFES) to all Auxiliary Firefighter employees that simply and clearly articulates the entitlement –

                ‘When you are called to leave whatever you are doing…to respond to the station to do something…(this is what a call-in means and this is a)…trigger to enable the minimum two-hours payment’.

Should you have evidence you were denied a minimum two hours payment on any occasion you performed work as an Auxiliary Firefighter at any time in the previous six years from receipt of this Auxiliary Update, your union and QFD have agreed to manage any claim members might have in an open and positive way.  It is recommended you gather some evidence of what you worked and when, what you claimed and what you say is the underpayment.  Then, you are required to contact your local manager and your payroll, provide them your evidence and the information within this Auxiliary Update and claim the backpay.

Only if you undertake that process locally and your claim is rejected should you contact the UFUQ. And we will work with QFD if this occurs (it may be that the message may not filter out to those who are mistakenly interpreting the entitlement), to ensure you are paid appropriately.

To be clear, it is expected you work with your local management and HR and payroll in the first instance.

I thank QFD representatives for working proactively to ensure existing Auxiliary Firefighter entitlements are paid correctly.

John Oliver - General Secretary