Territory faces firefighters shortage amid tense pay dispute

The Territory could face an unprecedented shortage of firefighters as the sector struggles to attract new recruits. Read why numbers in the profession are dwindling at a rapid rate.

The Territory could face an unprecedented shortage of firefighters as the profession struggles to attract new recruits amid tense pay negotiations and “concerning” understaffing.

According to the firefighter’s union, the NT government’s latest recruiting campaign attracted less than 50 applications, with numbers dropping hundreds from previous drives.

United Workers Union NT branch secretary Erina Early said the lack of new applicants would put more pressure on already overworked firefighters who were being asked to work as many as 20 hours a day in Alice Springs.

“For them to get those numbers is unheard of,” Ms Early said.

United Workers Union NT branch secretary Erina Early said firefighters in Alice Springs were being asked to work as many as 39 extra hours per week.

Ms Early said she had not seen firey staffing levels at such low levels before.

She said resources in the profession were dwindling so low in the town, some firefighters had been asked to work up to an additional 39 hours in one week.

She said between December 10 and December 18, NT Fire and Rescue Service tried to recall staff in Alice Springs 11 times to work additional hours after clocking off.

On 10 occasions, staff were unable to be recalled, leaving the town with an under-resourced service and on-duty staff without adequate support.

The staffing crisis had raised concerns, with union members fearing the community was at risk due to a lack of available resources to respond to call outs.

An Alice Springs-based firefighter said the lack of resources meant fireys were unable to properly do their job.

“The motto is to serve and protect,” they said.

An Alice Springs-based firefighter said the town was at risk due to lack of resourcing.

“Are we really serving and protecting the community?”

They said between 2015 and 2021, as many as 31 firefighters had been through the Alice Springs station – the equivalent to the station’s entire staffing level.

“Most are lucky to spend two years here,” they said.

The union has been locked in negotiations over a new enterprise agreement, with a new deal yet to be inked.

It has demanded a six per cent per annum pay rise for fireys, labelling the two per cent offered “pathetic”.

“This is disgraceful,” Ms Early said.

Ms Early said firefighters would not settle for less than a six per cent per annum pay rise. Picture: Floss Adams

“Fireys will not accept anything less than a wage increase that recognises the cost of inflation and ensuring that they continue to recruit and retain firefighters,” Ms Early said.

The union has also lobbied for fireys to accrue long service, annual and personal leave while receiving workers compensation due to workplace injuries, such as cancer, which the union said can be caused by the job.

Their proposed enterprise agreement would also include a government top-up of their wages, 75 per cent of which are paid if they are seeking cancer treatment after 26 weeks and not able to return to work.

“Their lives depend on this protection for them and their families,” Ms Early said.

A spokesman said the government would continue to work with the unions.