AUXILIARY UPDATE : 19 may 2017

Auxiliary award entitlements – July 1 changes

I am pleased to report that on Saturday 1 July 2017 some of the award payments you are eligible to receive (penalties that apply to your work) are again phased up.  The phasing in of these penalty amounts was agreed between your union and QFES and the state government.

Phasing in was introduced to offset the increases in your wages as a result of moving away from the flat hourly rate you received prior to 1 January 2016 to the payment of specific penalties, entitlements and allowances for certain purposes.

JULY 2017 INCREASES.
Saturday 1 July 2017 is the next date at which some changes in the rates occur.

Weekend penalty rates (clause 18).
Your weekend penalty rate goes from 135% to 150% for Saturday and Sunday work.

These rise again on 1 January 2018 for the Sunday rate and then again on 1 July 2018 for both rates (at 1 July 2018 this penalty rate is fully phased in).

Late work (clause 19).
Your late work penalty rate goes from 110% to 115% for work between 1800 – 0600 Monday to Friday.

This is the final amount currently payable for this penalty (at 1 July 2017 this penalty rate is fully phased in).

RETENTION ALLOWANCE PAYMENTS DOUBLED!
You will be aware that the payment (provided for at clause 15.4 of your award) for attendance at ‘at least 75% scheduled weekly training’ is currently being disputed by your union with QFES and I will continue to report on the progress of that dispute.

However, regardless of how eligibility is eventually to be determined, those auxiliary firefighters eligible to receive the allowances will receive double the amount in February 2018 for attending scheduled weekly training and call-outs ($350 to $700 for training and $250 to $500 or $350 to $700 for attending call-outs).

CHANGES TO HOURLY RATES.
From the commencement of your award on 1 January 2016 your hourly rate as prescribed at clause 12 of the award has been linked to the annual state wage case.  The wage case decision (wage rise amount) is handed down by the QIRC around the end of September each year, so we expect your hourly rate to rise in line with the state wage case decision at that time.

Note that as per clause 12 (b), in 2016, at the commencement of the award, the hourly rate incorporated any adjustment made by that year’s state wage case, so 2017 will see the first change and you ought to see your hourly wage rate rise in line with the state wage case amount.

I will report back to you when the state wage case is being heard by the QIRC.

CHANGES TO OTHER AMOUNTS.
Any other allowances or amounts in your award are either subject to the state wage case (see clause 15.5), or negotiation between your union and QFES.  The captains allowance (clause 15.1), the on call allowance (15.3) and the retention allowance (15.4) are linked to the state wage case.

Any motor vehicle allowance variance is described in 15.5 (b & c) of the award, and is linked to changes in the applicable index figure prescribed by the Australian bureau of Statistics.

QUESTIONS?
If you have questions about your pay, or the changes coming up as set out above, ask your captain in the first instance, or your area management and/or payroll.

If you have questions regarding the application of the award, email us at auxiliary@ufuq.com.au with your question and your evidence relating to the question.  Your email will be responded to as promptly as possible.

Tax time - update your details

To ensure you receive your union fees statement, if you have changed your address or any of your contact details, including station, rank, bank account details or personal email address, please forward your changes to ufu@ufuq.com.au, update on our website by clicking here or contact your union office directly on 1800 816 589.

Please be aware that fire service pay office do not provide us with any of your changed details.

UFU Fee Increase

As decided by the State Committee of Management and in line with previous years, membership fees will increase on 1 July 2017 by 0.50c per month for auxiliary firefighters.

Reminder – UFUQ IPhone and Android App

The UFUQ IPhone App is now available for upload and can be accessed through the App store for free. Your union App provides members with additional information and improved communication.

The App contains information such as;
• UFUQ shift calendar that can be integrated with your personal calendar (add in your sick/long service or holiday leave, overtime, training, shift swaps and exposures)
• UFUQ News (all newsletters accessible through the App)
• UFUQ video library will contain UFUQ TV ads, YouTube clips & media interviews)
• Instant messages and updates to members (UFUQ can notify members of industrial decisions, station visits and issues happening across the State)
• UFUQ event calendar (invitations from UFUQ to rallies, campaign events and general events across QLD)
• Change of details (update your details directly into the App)
• Exposure notification (you can notify the UFUQ directly of any exposure or injury you have sustained, which will then be placed on your member records.

Please follow the below instructions to access the UFUQ App.

• Go to your App store icon on your IPhone or Android and type in the search menu “UFUQ hotspot”.
• Download this App to your phone
Enter your username (badge number) and password (first and last name with no spaces).