Premier says government has come to the table in good faith as firefighters protest outside ALP conference
Disgruntled firefighters have gathered outside the ALP conference today, in their fight for a “decent payrise”. Now the Premier has weighed in on their calls for action.
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The Premier has weighed in on the pay rise dispute between the state government and the United Firefighters Union, saying his administration has come to the table in good faith.
Premier Peter Malinauskas appeared outside the ALP conference on Saturday morning to address the Union’s action.
Mr Malinauskas said a verbal offer, “typical in the course of negotiations”, had been made to the United Firefighters Union (UFUASA) in line with offers made to other public sectors.
“We are putting in place propositions to the firefighters union that would see them have a substantial improvement on what was offered by the former Liberal government,” he said.
“We have made it clear that we are willing to provide for back pay and increase that offer … an offer that is largely in line with what we have provided to other public sector unions including the ambulance officers.
“We are willing to work with the UFUASA professionally and negotiate with them pragmatically and that’s what we continue to do.”
SA’s firefighting union protested on the steps of the Adelaide Convention Centre today calling for answers from the state government — with further industrial action not off the cards.
UFUA members gathered outside the ALP conference from 8am on Saturday, chanting and flashing signs to passers-by on Montefiore Rd.
Fire trucks were also seen outside the convention centre, chalked with protest slogans.
UFUSA president Chas Thomas said the government needs to step up.
“We were patient with the government when they first came in, we gave them some time but clearly they’ve got a lot of issues to sort out,” he said.
“We have a risky job, a harmful job … we have massive high cancer rates and high incidence of PTSD, so a pay rise is a very important along the way to make sure that we’re adequately remunerated for the dangerous work.
“All we ask is they treat the enterprise bargaining process properly, bargain in good faith, and present our firefighters with an adequate offer so they can get on with their job serving the community.”
Mr Thomas also commented on fire alarm billing strikes – it comes as over the Tasman, New Zealand firefighters announce four one-hour strikes throughout November for higher pay and safer staffing levels.
“New Zealand has reached drastic measures, our firefighters aren’t prepared to do that, we can’t and won’t withdraw our labour,” Mr Thomas said.
“We are prepared to exercise the right to not process fire alarm charging, which passes on a charge to the community.
“We don’t believe the community should be charged and the money go into government pockets when they aren’t even offering us inadequate payrolls.”
UFUSA secretary Max Adlam said SA firefighters don’t feel respected.
“We’ve been meeting with successive governments now for three years and it’s fair to say we’re very frustrated with the process and despite the change of government, the faces at the negotiating table have not changed,” she said.
“It’s interesting to see that the government stated that we’d met in the last week, if we’ve met we weren’t invited to the meeting.
“They’ve got to do something better than this.”
Ms Adlam acknowledged a verbal offer had been made, but upon chasing it up, the group was told nothing had changed.
“We were given no explanation,” she said.
“I don’t have an offer in writing to put to our members even if they would accept it.”
The government says it will not try to stop firefighters from chalking their vehicles.
“The government has made very clear that, as a general principle, we will not be wasting taxpayer funds dragging public servants down to the Employment Tribunal to stop them chalking vehicles,” a spokesperson said. “Firefighters are within their rights to express their views.
“The government will monitor the proposed industrial action to ensure there is no adverse impact on community safety.”
Mr Malinauskas said on Saturday, chalking of fire trucks is the Union’s prerogative.
“As the leader of the Labor Party, I totally acknowledge and respect the role trade unions have got to play in our society,” he said.
Opposition emergency services spokesman Adrian Pederick said it meant unions could now “deface government property as they like”.
“Cost of living has soared since March and (Premier) Peter Malinauskas promised firefighters a pay rise but has so far avoided the MFS at all costs,” he said.
Kevin Ryan has been with the SA Metropolitan Fire Service for 36 years.
He currently works as a station officer at one of Adelaide’s suburban stations and believes
“It’s disrespectful … the fact that we haven’t been offered a pay rise, and the fact that these people have to take time away from their families to come here and protest,” he said.
“We think it would be painfully apparent that you need to pay your workers properly.”
Brad and Brooke Field are married firefighters.
Mr Field attended the protest while Mrs Field worked, but was supported by his children Cleo, 8 and Hudson, 5.
“The kids understand that mum and dad are firefighters and they understand the importance of us,” Mr Field said.
“We make a lot of sacrifices … we miss out on Christmas and Easter and work over time.”
Mr Field said he was influenced by a visit from the Premier to the St Mary’s station where he is based.
“He stood there looked at us all in the eye and said he would give us a fair go and now it’s time to give us that fair go,” Mr Field said.
Ms Adlam said the union had been negotiating for the past three years and while many of the issues have been resolved, the “big one” that remained was a fair wage deal for firefighters.
“It’s been over two years since firefighters got a pay rise,” she said.
Ms Adlam said the protest would mark the start of a campaign of action with some industrial bans and protests on the agenda.
“They don’t deserve for (Premier) Mr Malinauskas to treat them so poorly … we’ve been going to them (the government) for months and they’re not getting back to us.” she said.
Ms Adlam said over the three years the union has been negotiating with the government, they haven’t demanded a specific per cent increase in wages, but they have rejected a 1.5 per cent rise offered in February.
“All we get at the negotiating table are the same faces and attitudes as were there representing the last mob in 2019,” she said.
“We have asked for good-faith bargaining which Labor committed to as a ‘priority’ but we still don’t even have a written offer. We’ve asked the rate of inflation to be considered in any offer.”
In a YouTube video posted on Thursday night by the union, SA firefighters revealed the impact rising costs and inflation have had on their families.
“It’s difficult for everyone at the moment as you know, but the cost of food, mortgages going up, the cost of fuel, everything is so expensive now,” one firefighter said.
A government spokesperson said: “The government has been negotiating in good faith to reach a new enterprise agreement for firefighters in the Metropolitan Fire Service. The government will be continuing discussions with the United Firefighters Union.”
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