Firies prepare biggest strike since 1956
June 21, 2012
The Age.
AAP

Firefighters across NSW are stopping work on Thursday as crossbench MPs told an overnight sitting of parliament they would support changes to slash WorkCover.    :(

Jim Casey, the state secretary of the Fire Brigade Employees' Union, said his members were meeting at 10am (AEST) in Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle to decide if a full-scale strike would go ahead at lunchtime.    :-?

He said there was "every chance" strike action would leave fire stations unstaffed, as firefighters protest against the state government's plan to cut workers' compensation payments and medical expenses.

"For the first time since 1956, we'll have done a full walk out," Mr Casey told AAP on Wednesday.

As the NSW upper house continued sitting into the early hours of Thursday morning, Shooters Party MP Robert Borsak said he would support changes to rein in WorkCover's $4 billion deficit.

"The truth of the matter is the workers' compensation scheme in its current form is unsustainable and needs fixing," the former accountant told the chamber.

Fellow crossbencher Paul Green, from the Christian Democrats, said small businesses paid huge WorkCover premiums, and his party would seek to amend the bill.

"Little coffee shops are paying huge premiums and before you even open up in the day they're thousands of dollars behind the eight-ball before they sell one cup of coffee," he said.

But Greens industrial relations spokesman David Shoebridge said that under the changes all workers, apart from police, would lose the right to claim for injuries sustained travelling to and from work, a right that dated back to 1926.   ;)

"A construction worker who's had five days of 12-hour shifts goes home knackered after working 60 hours in five days and crashes their car because they're fatigued, won't get a dollar of compensation," he said.    :(

The government's bid to reform WorkCover passed the lower house late on Tuesday night.

Debate in the upper house continued into Thursday morning.

© 2012 AAP

And so they should strike. It's no laughing matter to have your workplace rights demolished without recourse. I just hope now that they have given details of the date and time that the firebugs don't come out to play.

You can't really have a secret stop work action I suppose. Go for it firies!!!!

the bottom line is that around the country workcover is a massive blackhole and the costs have to be contained. its not like theere is an alternative option.

Bottom line is that everyone is paying for decisions like one this year where a public servant (why am I not surprised) gets compensation for, while on a "work" trip, has sex in a motel room and gets injured. 

...and Leo McLeay the Lab speaker...who received $65K when the bicycle he hired from the parliament gym collapsed after hitting a bump. He had been told he was to big and fat for the bike, or words to that effect. $10K of the compensation was because he could not resume his job as a telecom technicion a job he had not done for 17 years.

longweekend58 wrote on Jun 21^st, 2012 at 8:36am:

the bottom line is that around the country workcover is a massive blackhole and the costs have to be contained. its not like theere is an alternative option.

Hahaha no not at all

The old story.  Unions think the Government and taxpayers have money trees.

Who cares when it's other people's money....well it's not a bottomless pit. 

Look at Europe, their money tree has been given a dose of  'Roundup'.  They are shagged because they have overspent on this kind of stuff for decades and lived on the bankcard... :(

Open both eyes and not just the left one crookbot... :(

The scheme gets scammed and needs amendments to remain sustainable.

Good thing its winter.

bobbythefap1 wrote on Jun 21^st, 2012 at 9:59am:

Good thing its winter.

More housefires in winter.......

The Bushies are volunteers...

NSW firies vote to strike over WorkCover
June 21, 2012 - 1:57PM



WorkCover reform ... protesters rally outside NSW Parliament today.



NSW firefighters have voted to strike in protest at the state government's WorkCover reforms.    :-?

Fire Brigade Employees' Union (FBEU) members took the decision at a meeting in Sydney today.

It means firefighters across the city, in Newcastle and the central coast will stop work from 1pm until 6pm (AEST), with cover expected to be provided by other emergency services.


Meanwhile, Christian Democrats MP Fred Nile revealed that the government had agreed to his request to restore so-called journey claims under the new workers compensation laws.    :)

The new legislation, which is being debated in Parliament, abolishes benefits for workers injured to and from work.    :(

Working towards resolution: Police Minister

Police Minister Mike Gallacher said he hoped to stave off the strike but had contingency plans in place if the industrial action went ahead.

He said he was confident the government could resolve the concerns of the fire brigade officers' union.

"We are now in the process of working through those issues with the cross bench to achieve some resolution in relation to it," he said.

"It is about reaching some level of security for the fire brigade union in relation to their employees. We understand that. It is just a question of how we achieve that to a satisfactory level that the cross bench in particular are happy with."

Community safety is 'priority'

The Fire & Rescue NSW Acting Commissioner John Benson said the NSW Rural Fire Service's volunteer firefighters were been deployed across Sydney and in the Illawarra and Newcastle and community safety was his priority.

"The FRNSW major incident coordination centre has been activated and will coordinate the deployment of resources to fires and other emergencies," he said in a statement.

"Other government resources, for example, hazardous materials specialists, are also available and will be called upon as required."

A Rural Fire Service spokesman said their firefighters were professionally trained and worked with Fire & Rescue NSW crews every day.

"We are talking about brigades that are on the fringe areas of Sydney. ... We are working with Fire & Rescue NSW through the afternoon and when those calls come in, we will work out the best level of response," he said.

Rural and regional fire stations are not expected to be directly affected.

First major strike since 1956

It is the first time that firefighters have staged a major strike in NSW since 1956.

The changes to the WorkCover scheme, which are expected to pass the state's upper house today, mean workers' compensation payments are to be reduced after 13 weeks of claims.    :(

It replaces the current system of 100 per cent payouts for 26 weeks.

Under the proposals, police have been exempted from the changes - but firefighters and paramedics have not.    :(

"We do not do this lightly - it has been 56 years since firefighters have walked off the job in this state," FBEU secretary Jim Casey told reporters in Sydney.

"I pray that today is not the next time it happens - the O'Farrell government can stop this now.

"It's very simple. We are simply asking for the same exemptions as Rural Fire Service volunteers and police officers."

Not holding state government to ransom: FBEU secretary

Mr Casey denied the union was holding the state government to ransom.

He said the union would call off the strikes if it received a commitment from the government that firefighters would be exempt.    ;)

Rural Fire Service volunteers are expected to provide emergency cover across the areas affected by today's strike.

Firefighters at the Sydney meeting are marching to Parliament House to join a protest by other unions.

Mr Casey agreed that the community may not be safe because of the strikes.

"Tragically no - this is a stoppage, we're walking out the door," he added.

Today's strikes are set to last until 6pm (AEST) when a further union meeting is to be held to discuss the union's next move.

Just under 300 off-duty firefighters attended today's meeting in Sydney. Only 29 voted against the strike.

WorkCover reforms

Greens MP David Shoebridge is now set to table an amendment to the WorkCover reforms under which firefighters and paramedics would be exempted from the changes.    :)

"We don't want to do this - I'm pleading with the government to actually sort this out," Mr Casey added.

"They've got until [11.30am AEST] to simply indicate to us that they support the amendment before the house.

"It's simply the right thing to do."

Mr Shoebridge called on government MPs and crossbenchers from the Shooters Party and Christian Democrats to support their amendment.

"Firefighters and paramedics work side by side with police, the RFS and SES in dealing with emergencies - they deserve the same level of protection," Mr Shoebridge said.

"The risks that firefighters and paramedics take on a daily basis are being ignored by the O'Farrell government.    :(

"The Greens are calling on the government and all parties to support these basic protections for emergency service workers."    [smiley=thumbsup.gif]   

The WorkCover reforms are currently being debated in the NSW upper house, and are expected to be passed later today.

The FBEU later clarified that while firefighters in Newcastle, the central coast and Sydney would all stop work, those meeting at Wollongong had voted against striking.

People were advised to continue calling triple-0 in the event of an emergency, acting Commissioner Benson said.



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nsw-firies-vote-to-strike-over-workcover-20120621-20pjd.html#ixzz1yOij3NgL

longweekend58 wrote on Jun 21^st, 2012 at 8:36am:

the bottom line is that around the country workcover is a massive blackhole and the costs have to be contained. its not like theere is an alternative option.

You are so full of crap, the bottom line is the global Mafia Insurance companies like Allianz have pushed this, they dont pay up on workcover insurance, they are as corrupt as buggery, we have no work insurance and that is the bottom line, the Government has abolished insurance for the most vulnerable workers, it simply does not exist - workcover is a farce. A bottomless blackhole you say - on massive global private insurance companies run by the Mafia worth $trillions?

Swagman wrote on Jun 21^st, 2012 at 2:18pm:

bobbythefap1 wrote on Jun 21st, 2012 at 9:59am: Good thing its winter. More housefires in winter....... The Bushies are volunteers...

Really? Must be cause of heaters you would assume.
Yeah I know, they really should get paid

bobbythefap1 wrote on Jun 21^st, 2012 at 3:56pm:

Swagman wrote on Jun 21st, 2012 at 2:18pm: bobbythefap1 wrote on Jun 21st, 2012 at 9:59am: Good thing its winter. More housefires in winter....... The Bushies are volunteers... Really? Must be cause of heaters you would assume. Yeah I know, they really should get paid

I live in a rural area and gotta tell you that the only fires that I have ever had trouble with are those lit by the RFS.
A lot of country areas that in the past used to be burnt off once a year and managed along the lines that was employed by Indigenous peoples and is largely responsible for the landscape, flora and fauna Cook found. Now because fire management is prohibited you have far less frequent fire with lots of fuel that means that these a bigger, hotter and far less capable of management. It is also much more damaging and dangerous to plants and wildlife and idiots that put their houses and families in the middle of it.

tonegunman1 wrote on Jun 21^st, 2012 at 5:40pm:

bobbythefap1 wrote on Jun 21st, 2012 at 3:56pm: Swagman wrote on Jun 21st, 2012 at 2:18pm: bobbythefap1 wrote on Jun 21st, 2012 at 9:59am: Good thing its winter. More housefires in winter....... The Bushies are volunteers... Really? Must be cause of heaters you would assume. Yeah I know, they really should get paid I live in a rural area and gotta tell you that the only fires that I have ever had trouble with are those lit by the RFS. A lot of country areas that in the past used to be burnt off once a year and managed along the lines that was employed by Indigenous peoples and is largely responsible for the landscape, flora and fauna Cook found. Now because fire management is prohibited you have far less frequent fire with lots of fuel that means that these a bigger, hotter and far less capable of management. It is also much more damaging and dangerous to plants and wildlife and idiots that put their houses and families in the middle of it.

I have been a member of the RFS for many years and have taken part in controlled burns and find this statement offensive. The RFS has been lobbing for increased controlled burning or as it is termed fuel load reduction. We all have called Parks, sparks and wildfires for years as when they turn up you can be sure they plan to control the burn over the next thousand hectares. People in rural areas don't want fires but since the tree changers have arrived i have noted that very few of them bother to join the RFS and go and get some training and real knowledge about what they are on about. Being a member of your local brigade when a rural resident is a responsibility to your community not an option.

nairbe wrote on Jun 21^st, 2012 at 8:43pm:

tonegunman1 wrote on Jun 21st, 2012 at 5:40pm: bobbythefap1 wrote on Jun 21st, 2012 at 3:56pm: Swagman wrote on Jun 21st, 2012 at 2:18pm: bobbythefap1 wrote on Jun 21st, 2012 at 9:59am: Good thing its winter. More housefires in winter....... The Bushies are volunteers... Really? Must be cause of heaters you would assume. Yeah I know, they really should get paid I live in a rural area and gotta tell you that the only fires that I have ever had trouble with are those lit by the RFS. A lot of country areas that in the past used to be burnt off once a year and managed along the lines that was employed by Indigenous peoples and is largely responsible for the landscape, flora and fauna Cook found. Now because fire management is prohibited you have far less frequent fire with lots of fuel that means that these a bigger, hotter and far less capable of management. It is also much more damaging and dangerous to plants and wildlife and idiots that put their houses and families in the middle of it. I have been a member of the RFS for many years and have taken part in controlled burns and find this statement offensive. The RFS has been lobbing for increased controlled burning or as it is termed fuel load reduction. We all have called Parks, sparks and wildfires for years as when they turn up you can be sure they plan to control the burn over the next thousand hectares. People in rural areas don't want fires but since the tree changers have arrived i have noted that very few of them bother to join the RFS and go and get some training and real knowledge about what they are on about. Being a member of your local brigade when a rural resident is a responsibility to your community not an option.

That's been my experience. I find it more than offensive to have to replace a considerable amount of fencing because they did a burn when no right minded person would have.