AUXILIARY UPDATE : 30 january 2015

“Unfair contracts” case adjourned

As previously reported, your union defeated the fire service application to ‘strike out’ our unfair contracts case.

Your union filed our evidence in the QIRC on 9 January 2015. Hearing dates were set down for mid-February.

The fire service have appealed the decision to refuse their ‘strike out’ application. Their appeal is being heard in the industrial court on 27 April 2015.

As a result of the appeal the QIRC has now adjourned the hearing of the ‘unfair contracts’ case. The fire service evidence was due to be filed on 30 January, but they managed to get an adjournment hearing listed on 29 January 2015, and the February hearing dates were cancelled as was the requirement for the fire service to file any evidence.

The fire service continues to assert that fire service commissioners can set whatever terms and conditions of employment they like for auxiliary firefighters and it is up to the fire service commissioner to decide whether the employment conditions are ‘fair’ or not, not the QIRC.

As expected the fire service continues to do everything it can to frustrate, delay and oppose providing fair employment remuneration for auxiliary work.

Your union has arranged legal counsel to argue our case against the fire service appeal.

Auxiliary award

As previously reported the government has agreed ‘in principle’ to the making of an auxiliary award providing fair and comparable employment conditions for auxiliary firefighters.

Note that your union secured a commitment from the opposition party in December 2013, to the making of a auxiliary award should they attain government.

Your union has now met with the fire service to discuss our proposed award content, but the fire service still have not stated what they are prepared to agree to in an award.

New Standing Order

As previously advised a new standing order has been developed to include new higher wage rates and new employment conditions such as improved minimum engagements.

You can find a copy of the standing order at below link; 

https://ufuq.com.au/files/2714/2258/3699/SO-Q-BM-3.7_01012015.pdf

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.

Existing members who refer new members will receive a new auxiliary UFUQ t-shirt in 2015, upon the new member becoming financial (one t-shirt per year for existing members).

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!

Have a question or want to organise a station visit?

In 2014, UFUQ representatives visited almost 60 auxiliary stations.

No one but UFUQ can get, or is getting, to that many stations to talk to auxiliary firefighters about their individual, local station and state wide issues, not even QFES.

The plan for 2015 includes many more station visits.

Contact the state office if you would like to organise someone to discuss what the union is doing with members and potential members in a visit to your station.

Station visits can be done in person, via teleconference or via Skype.

The station visits can be done on training nights, or another night as arranged.  If we haven’t seen you, we hope to see you in 2015!

Auxiliary representatives

Auxiliaries are represented on the state committee of management of the union and there is a standing agenda item for an auxiliary update to be given at every union executive meeting.

You can contact the state office at any time to discuss membership, or any other matter affecting your employment.

The UFUQ has an industrial officer dedicated to assisting auxiliaries with all employment related matters, so if you have a work related question, contact the state office and you will receive the appropriate assistance.