General News
10 December, 2024
Forest firies start wage rise action
THE region’s forest firefighters have started industrial action to win a wage rise. Forest Fire Management Victoria staff, including those based at Inglewood, are part of the campaign by an estimated 800 Australian Workers’ Union members across...
THE region’s forest firefighters have started industrial action to win a wage rise.
Forest Fire Management Victoria staff, including those based at Inglewood, are part of the campaign by an estimated 800 Australian Workers’ Union members across the state.
Their protected actions will see some non-emergency paperwork not completed, meal breaks taken at the depot, interruptions in work to speak to the public about the enterprise negotiations and the ability to post on social media.
“None of our members do the job for the money, every single fire fighter I’ve been lucky enough to speak to loves their job, but they just can’t continue with the wages they are paid. I call upon the Minister and the Government to meet with us and help us resolve this important dispute,” said AWU president and country Victoria lead organiser Ross Kenna.
“Our members don’t take industrial action lightly and they have ensured that their actions won’t impact the safety of Victorians. But we need to do something to get the Government’s attention.”
“This isn’t a greedy money grab; we worry if the (Government’s) wages policy is upheld that most of our experienced workers who have the knowledge and skills to protect the state will be forced out, unable to raise a family with the wages currently on offer,” he said.