Queensland Firefighter
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Queensland Firefighter • State Secretary's Report - John Oliver .............2 • State President's Report - Steve Bunney ..........5 The United Firefighters Union of Australia • Junior Vice President - Ron Raverty .................8 Queensland Branch Ground Floor • Allan Young - Life Member UFUQ .....................10 286 Montague Road West End Qld 4101 • This Ones For Groove .........................................12 Phone: 07 3844 0366 • A Brief Summary of the Nerang Fire Brigade's Fax: 07 3844 0367 History as overviewed in the Gold Coast Email: Bulletin 24th April 1973 .....................................16 [email protected] Website: • UFUQ Merchandise Shop .................................19 www.ufuq.asn.au Editors: • New Union Merchandise .................................20 Steve Bunney & Leanne Nolte • Auxiliary Draft Agreement Consulation .........27 • Workers Compensation ...................................30 Publisher and Advertising: • The Old South Coast Brigade - Dowd Publications Pty Ltd By Allan Burrows-Part 3 ....................................32 Suite 9 Dominion House 34 Dominions Road Ashmore Qld 4214 Phone: 1800 621 533 Fax: 1800 066 787 Email: [email protected] Front Cover: A blaze extensively damaged Woolloongabba's Historic Broadway Hotel. Photographs courtesy of Matt Hayes. UFU - Queensland Journal page 1 Queensland Firefighter State Secretary's Report John Oliver Networking Part of the role of State Secretary is to meet with other Union leaders that have a similar membership profile. The Union that represents Ambulance employees (LHMU), Queensland Police Union and the QPSU fall into this category. I have now contacted the State Secretaries that present these Union's and have asked that we meet to discuss issues that affect our members as a group. The response has been enthusiastic and I will do everything that I can to strengthen our collective relationship over the coming years. Firefighters, Paramedics and Police can add a considerable amount of weight to any disagreement! The Rural Fire Brigade Association, which represents Rural Volunteers across Queensland is another important body. We have already formed a working relationship with their Executive and we now look forward to progressing issues that have an impact on the Rural and Urban landscape. One of their concerns which has already been discussed, is Rural employees and volunteers being paraded around in Urban uniforms which makes it almost impossible to distinguish between our roles and the special skills that each service has. I believe that by forming these partnerships, we can achieve more results for our membership base. Communications Centre I wish to thank those who participated in the teleconference for our first ever Firecom telephone conference between our Communication Centres. Communications Centre Delegate Bear Amos, State President Steve Bunney and Industrial Officer Paula Newman did a wonderful job getting everyone together for this event. The most important thing now is to transfer members input into tangible results. I have asked Steve Bunney to ensure that this happens and I am confident of a good result. UFU Branches page 2 UFU - Queensland Journal Queensland Firefighter From time-to-time our Branches need additional support and resources. Our SCM elected Officials have given a commitment to ensure that support from the State Office is forthcoming when needed. This support can come in many forms such as: Union Delegate training, WHS support, or Industrial Relations support. If you have issues that you need help with, please give me a call so we can discuss your needs. Elections Once again elections are about to occur across Queensland for Local and State Committee of Management positions. Being part of the UFU is more than rewarding, it is input into your own future. For those who think they have what it takes, please fill in a nomination form and become involved in YOUR Union. Nominations for the unfilled Local and State Committee of Management positions will open in early January. If you are unsure of what the position entails, please contact the Head Office and myself or other staff members will be more than happy to help answer any questions you may have. WHS I wish to thank Chris Robinson for his dedication and hard work over the recent months. Chris is on a number of Committee’s dealing with and looking after our best int erests. Next year will see a UFU agenda that will audit our Fire Stations and make sure that they comply with WHS legislation. Some Auxiliary stations don’t have running hot and cold water, showers or the like. These Stations will need to be identified before we can move forward with this issue. If you believe your station does not comply with WHS legislation, please email the Union office on [email protected] and we will help deal with your compliance issues. MERRY CHRISTMAS I hope that you and your families have a happy and safe Christmas break and I look forward to representing your interests in 2011. John Oliver State Secretary UFU - Queensland Journal page 3 Queensland Firefighter page 4 UFU - Queensland Journal Queensland Firefighter State President's Report Steve Bunney What is the value of a local UFU branch? Everyone understands that the state office receives lots of phone calls and emails on a daily basis over industrial issues and after taking numerous calls, I began to wonder why some of the issues raised hadn’t been resolved by the local UFU branch. Now don’t get me wrong, I have no problem talking to and with members, in fact the State Secretary thinks sometimes I probably talk too much, period. However what I was to discover was our members were either unaware they had a local branch or the branch had lapsed due to no elected delegates? I began asking regional delegates as to why we “the union” were in this position. The reoccurring main reasons began to surface, 1/ No Support from the union, 2/ no one knows all the awards and agreements. 3/ no one knows how to run a branch or what’s expected from the executives of a local branch. I firmly believe that without all our local UFU Branches in place, fully supported, resourced and ready to represent our members, our Union will have had lost or weakened its foundations on which to build. It goes to reason that without sound, solid foundations there will be no super UFU fortress built. An unrepresented workplace allows QFRS management free reign to implement decisions or procedures that are just plain unsafe and may go against certified agreements or award conditions, without dispute or questioning. We all know that once there has been one dodgy decision made, it gives rise to more and more and sooner rather then later, there’s a whole torrent of policies and localised procedures floating your way and we all know they smell all the while completely unquestioned by any representative body!!!!!!!! I have made a promise to the State Secretary to get UFU Branches across the state up and running and to this date, I have started making some inroads. Some of our Branches across the State have seen first hand my promise and commitment to them and I have whole heartedly pledged my support, the support of the State office and it resources to assist them in there duties. Lets be very clear, we are the union, us the rank and file of the fire service. If there’s another profession more suited to being a union delegate, you best let me know. Everyone knows that firies work best under pressure, we learn quickly, can tell when someone’s lying to us and we don’t sell our mates out, above all when the chips are down, there’s no one better to have standing right beside you than a firefighter. Firefighters exude UFU - Queensland Journal page 5 Queensland Firefighter naturally what Unions around the world build there strength on …….”SOLIDARITY”. So are you ready for a challenge, willing to stand up for your mates? Do you want the opportunity to challenge decisions that impact on your work life? Well give me call and I will be only too eager to assist you and your branch to go forward in its efforts of representing UFU members. I challenge you, put me to the test. I will not waiver in my efforts to assist our members and branches. Recently I attended the fallen firefighter memorials on the Gold Coast and visited our members in Rockhampton, Gladstone, Yeppoon. To Dain Johnson and Bruce Lawrie and team at Rocky, thanks for your hospitality, it was an honour to attend a UFU branch meeting at the birthplace of our union. A side note, it was great to see the passion still alive and well in Rocky. To Kristal Johnston and Gavin Thomas and team in Gladstone, things are only just beginning for your Branch and your members are right behind you, so keep at it. You have my total support and I look forward to celebrating many achievements with you all next time I’m in t own, so “go get em”. And finally, recently there was a line in the sand drawn in the North Coast region and I stood proudly, shoulder-to-shoulder beside our Sunshine Coast branch executives in their fight to be taken seriously by QFRS management and there subsequent industrial action. To the Sunshine Coast UFU branch executive, Shane Pasterfield, Bevan McPherson, Cameron Herbet and of course the reliable as ever “Thommo” a well done is in order. The result that was achieved is a reflection of the effort by your team and the resolve displayed, which was reverberated by your members that night, will ensure that on the Sunshine Coast, firefighters concerns WILL be heard and taken seriously and firefighters WILL be consulted with on all issues that may impact on there work life.