AUXILIARY UPDATE : 20 november 2015

Auxiliary Award – Happy New Year!

The Auxiliary Firefighters’ Award – State 2016 commences 1 January 2016

Over three years ago, your union submitted the first application for an award to cover all auxiliary firefighters in Queensland.

The battle for your award has been hard fought, and is now, we are pleased to advise you, finally won.

On Friday 20 November 2015, at a full bench hearing of the QIRC, the consent application for an award to cover auxiliary firefighters was approved.

The time between the first application being lodged in September 2012 and the QIRC ordering that the award be approved to commence on 1 January 2016, we have kept you informed of the battles we have faced trying to obtain the respect and coverage of an award for all auxiliary firefighters. During that time, the QFES, the previous state government and other fringe groups all resisted you obtaining award coverage.

Your union is now about to commence discussions with QFES about the “roll-out” of this new award and how that is to occur, and more information will be coming to auxiliaries from both your union and QFES in the coming months.

Once the award is released the UFUQ will circulate to all Auxiliary members.

Keep an eye out for new UFUQ posters for auxiliary stations, wishing all auxiliaries a Happy New Year!

UFUQ delegates

A number of auxiliary stations have nominated and elected UFUQ auxiliary workplace delegates to represent them and keep them informed in the workplace.  If your station has not nominated or elected a UFUQ auxiliary delegate yet, you can commence the process now, by using the following link:

https://ufuq.com.au/files/8414/4296/6492/Auxiliary_Delegate_Elections_forms.pdf

The process is very simple, members nominate people for election as a delegate for their station, then an election is held and a delegate appointed.  The delegate is appointed for a period of two years.

Station visits

Throughout 2015 many auxiliary stations have been visited, many for the first time.

We encourage you to organise a station visit on the next suitable training night.  Alternatively, a phone or video hook-up can be done with an industrial officer and/or a member of the union executive or state council.

Contact the state office on 1800 816 589 to arrange a visit.

Become a member of UFUQ and show your support

2014 saw many new members join or re-join UFUQ.  We want to continue to increase our strength in 2015.

Become a member of your union to show you are standing with your auxiliary colleagues as we continue the fight to improve your employment conditions and wages.

As a member, you also have access to the many benefits of coverage you will receive from a registered industrial organisation.

If you are already a member of UFUQ, now is the time to discuss membership of your union with your auxiliary colleagues.

Your union continues to send a strong and clear message to QFES and the government about your employment conditions.  We are showing them that we have the support of auxiliaries in our efforts to win fair employee conditions for you.

UFUQ needs your support now and will be there to support you should you ever need us!