Why Tasmanian firefighters are leaving the state in droves
Tassie firefighters are paid wages so low compared with mainland counterparts that one left for a job two levels down and still got a rise, the union says. SEE WHAT THEY GET PAID>>>
Tasmania
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TASMANIAN firefighters are paid the lowest wages in Australia while being lumped with bigger workloads than their mainland counterparts, the union says.
United Firefighters Union of Australia Tasmania Branch Stephen McCallum said firefighters were leaving the state due to poor working conditions.
He said mainland firefighter salaries were around 10 per cent higher and offered several allowances and benefits that were unheard of in Tasmania.
Fire Rescue Victoria, for example, offers extra pay for out-of-hours contact, language and first aid skills, advanced fire qualifications, and childcare reimbursement.
A Senior Station Officer in Tasmania is paid $23,818 less per year than a Victorian Senior Station Officer even without factoring in the extra allowances.
A First Class Firefighter in Tasmania is paid $82,585, which is $7836 less than the Victorian equivalent and $16,329 less than Western Australia.
Mr McCallum said there had recently been a Tasmanian regional chief who left for a District Officer job in Victoria that was two ranks lower, but still paid higher.
Mr McCallum said firefighters would continue to leave Tasmania unless urgent action was taken to remove the pay discrepancy.
“Firefighters give up so much to be firefighters, but for many it is asking too much when you take away the financial security of their family, both now and in retirement,” Mr McCallum said.
“While bills are going up by 5.8 per cent in Tasmania, the government has offered firefighters a 2.35 per cent pay rise and have not addressed firefighter concerns over superannuation.”
Tasmania Fire Service chief officer Dermot Barry told the Mercury government representatives have held regular meetings with the UFU over the past five months, to negotiate an updated Agreement that improves firefighter wages and conditions.
“Five formal offers have been made in total, and a sixth verbally – which the UFU has not presented to members for consideration. The most recent offer provided for a two-year agreement with a salary increase of 2.35 per cent in Year 1 and 2.5 per cent in Year 2,” Mr Barry said.
“Firefighters have asked to meet with the new Premier, Jeremy Rockliff, but the invitation has not been accepted.”
He said higher superannuation was high on their list of their demands, with many firefighters struggling to live comfortably post retirement.
Mr McCallum said before the arrival of superannuation in Australia most firefighters had negotiated pension plans of typically about 15 to 22 per cent.
Nowadays trainee firefighters receive the minimum of 10 per cent which, Mr McCallum said, is not enough given how early most firefighters retire from the industry.
Given the physicality and risks of the job, Mr McCallum said many firefighters found themselves unable to keep up with the emergency functions required of them.
The union will hold a public rally at 12.30pm on June 8 outside on Parliament Lawns and are asking the public to show up in support.
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