Unions claim volunteers were left in the dark during major review into state’s emergency services
The state’s emergency volunteers have accused the government of “bullying tactics” after they were left with no time to have their say on major overhaul.
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Mix-ups over a “confidential” document left more than 15,000 emergency volunteers in the dark on a government review – and their unions claim they had no time to give feedback on a major overhaul of the sector.
They have also accused the Government of “bullying tactics” to push through reforms, in a dispute with Emergency Services Minister Corey Wingard.
The Advertiser reported this month that new SA Fire and Emergency Services Commission chief executive Dominic Lane had completed his analysis into the joint operation of the SES, MFS and CFS, finding that a lack of trust between their bosses had left the community worse off.
His analysis made six recommendations, including a new shared charter between the agencies to “hold everyone to account” and ensure they have a “united front”.
Mr Wingard accepted all findings of the “tough but necessary review”.
But SES Volunteers’ Association chairman Warren Hicks said members had no idea about it until they read it in The Advertiser. He said SAFECOM was “not too interested in volunteers’ opinions”.
“They seem to forget that a large percentage of the emergency services sector is volunteers,” he said.
“There’s no consultation. If you order somebody or direct them without explaining why or justifying it, that is a type of bullying.”
Mr Wingard fired back in a scathing letter to Mr Hicks yesterday, saying: “Regrettably, I must express my disappointment in the action of the (SES) Volunteers’ Association to continue to use the public arena to air apparent grievances”.
“Time and time again, instead of meeting with me or my office and focusing on a positive working relationship, your association appears to prefer to communicate via the media,” the letter reads.
It was in response to a letter sent by Mr Hicks last week that made allegations of a widespread “bullying attitude” within SAFECOM, demonstrated through lack of consultation, he claims.
Mr Wingard wrote back: “Whilst I do not need to point out the risks associated with wide ranging allegations of ‘bullying attitudes’, I encourage you to provide any specific instances of bullying to my office so that they may be properly and thoroughly investigated”.
CFS Volunteers’ Association Vice President David Lindner said some recommendations were already being implemented and there was no specific consultation period provided in the analysis.
“(It is) very concerning, as it gives the perception that changes are going to be made no matter what and it does pose that connotation of bully tactics.”
He said the conflict between the Government and volunteers is affecting their firefighting capabilities.
“Leaders in the CFS … are totally frustrated that they are constantly bombarded with proposed changes that increase bureaucracy …”
Mr Lane said he started his analysis in June last year and spent several months studying the history of SA’s emergency services before consulting with the chiefs of the MFS, CFS and SES.
He took his findings to the SAFECOM board in December 2019, on which representatives from both volunteer unions sit.
But it was the unions’ understanding that because the document was marked confidential, they were not allowed to discuss it with their volunteers and, therefore, could not provide adequate feedback.
It was then made public at the beginning of this month, angering the unions.
“When you sit as a director of a board, as they do, ultimately certain things are confidential, that is correct,” Mr Lane told The Advertiser
“But, ultimately they are consulted through that process, because they are involved in it and that’s why they are the representative at the table,” he said.
“One could argue that, yes they probably do feel a bit constrained as directors of that, but ultimately we seek their advice through that process as we go.”
Mr Lane also said he didn’t realise unions would take issue with the fact there is no set date for an official consultation period.
“I have heard that feedback at a meeting this week, that they’re not sure when feedback closes by and I thought, OK that’s a fair comment.”
On the same day the review was made public, Mr Lane sent an email to all SAFECOM staff and volunteers, saying: “I look forward to your comments and feedback on the Analysis … Over the coming weeks and months I look forward to any opportunities to discuss this strategic review with staff, volunteers and representative bodies.”
Mr Lane said the unions had not yet come directly to him with these fresh concerns.
“However, because I listen to what’s going on around the place, I was aware that people were starting to raise issues,” he said.
