NSW: Firefighters strike for first time in 15 years

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-1999
NSW: Firefighters strike for first time in 15 years

By Janine O'Neill

SYDNEY, Aug 1 AAP - More than 1,500 New South Wales firefighters flung their uniforms on
the gates of Parliament House in Sydney today during their first strike in 15 years.

Half of the state's 3,000 permanent firefighters began industrial action at 8am today and
vowed to continue their action until their demands on death and injury benefits were met.

Those firefighters who did not strike worked double shifts to cover gaps left by striking
colleagues, Fire Brigade Employees' Union president Darryl Snow said.

Members at already poorly staffed country stations did not join strike, ensuring the it did
not affect firefighting today.

However, Mr Snow warned that non-striking firefighters could not go on doing double shifts
permanently and that those members who did strike today would attend their stations tomorrow
but refuse to fight fires.

They would only do administrative and training work.

The striking firefighters today marched in funereal fashion through central Sydney,
discarded their familiar yellow and black tunics and helmets and hung them on the large iron
gates outside state parliament.

They are angry that firefighters employed after 1985 are given fewer death and disabilities
benefits than their colleagues employed prior to 1985.

Mr Snow said they were forced into action after the NSW government refused to meet their
demands to restore equitable entitlements for firefighters who were killed or injured.

"Quite simply we don't strike in industrial disputes, this is not about money, this is not
about a benefit that we want any of our members ever to pick up," he said.

"This is the sort of benefit that will only be picked up if you are killed or permanently
injured.

"We've been forced into this. The government has taken a very firm line, one that falls
well short of equity."

However, NSW Fire Brigade Commissioner Ian MacDougall expressed disappointment over the
strike, saying it affected more than 90 of the state's 330 stations.

He said the Fire Brigade and state government recognised the efforts and bravery of
firefighters and had offered them an appropriate pension-for-life offer.

"The government was not prepared to accept the union demands for a pension for life for a
firefighter injured playing football or on a fishing trip," he said.

But Mr Snow said accusations firefighters wanted to be covered for recreational activities
was the government peddling a line to cover their own proposed regime.

He said the union requested coverage for recreational injury in response to a government
proposal for compulsory health and fitness testing.

"That means we will have to be fully fit from the time we join the job until we turn 60,"
he said.

"Clearly other than a professional footballer or professional sportsman no-one has that
requirement placed upon them.

"If that's the case it means anyone who injures themselves at any time of their career will
be thrown out of the job and that could mean we lose hundreds of members."

The matter has been before the Industrial Relations Commission and is to be be heard before
a full bench of the commission tomorrow.

Mr Snow said all the union members were to report for duty as usual.

"However, the 50 per cent of our members who do not have appropriate and equitable
standards of the death and disability cover will not be putting themselves at risk by
responding to fires."

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KEYWORD: FIREFIGHTERS NIGHTLEAD

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